New Delhi, May 19 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Chief M. Karunanidhi will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi today to discuss on government formation.

The meeting comes amidst speculation that the DMK-led front, which won 28 out of 40 seats, may demand more ministerial berths in the government.

According to sources, the DMK is likely to ask seven cabinet berths in the new set up of government.

Kuala Lumpur, May 19 (IANS) Several key members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), banned in Malaysia, have set up Makkal Sakthi Party, the latest outfit that claims to speak for the Indian community in this country.

It is led by former Hindraf national coordinator R.S. Thanenthiran who campaigned across the country for the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the election held in March last year, hurting the ruling alliance Barisan Nasional (BN).

New Delhi, May 19 (ANI): The Congress parliamentary party (CPP) will meet on Tuesday to elect Sonia Gandhi as its Chairperson and name Dr. Manmohan Singh as the leader of its parliamentary party.
The formalities will further the process of government formation, a day after Dr. Singh resigned as Prime Minister on Monday.
The Cabinet met for the last time and recommended that the President dissolve the 14th Lok Sabha.

Bhubaneshwar, May 18 (ANI): Having registered a thumping victory in State and Lok Sabha elections, the Navin Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal is all set to form the new Governemt in the Orissa on Tuesday.
Naveen Patnaik will head the State for the third time in a row as the Chief Minister. However, there are speculations about who will get which portfolio as the State minister in the new State Cabinet.
On Sunday, senior leader of BJD Pyari Mohan Mohapatra met Naveen Patnaik to prepare a blue print on the new cabinet.

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) They belong to India’s first political family. And now four famous Gandhis, mother-son duos at that, will find themselves sitting on opposite benches in parliament for the first time.

Kolkata, May 19 (IANS) Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is game to talk to the Tatas if they want to speak to her on setting up the Nano plant in Singur, but said the auto major will have to return 400 acres of land acquired from farmers for the project.

“If the Tatas want to speak to us on Nano, I will talk. But they have to build the factory on 600 acres after returning 400 acres,” Banerjee said in an interactive programme on Bengali television channel Star Ananda Monday night.

Washington, May 19 (IANS) With India and America sharing both principles and interests, a leading US columnist wants President Barack Obama to stop “neglecting” India and visit India soon saying it would pay “very rich - and very reliable -dividends.”

Panaji, May 19 (IANS) The mobile phone of Russian teenager Elena Sukhonova, who was found dead on railway tracks near here under mysterious circumstances, had several missed calls from a Calangute beach shack owner, police said.

Superintendent of Police (North) Tony Fernandes told IANS that a Nokia mobile phone belonging to Elena, which was recovered from the death scene had several phone calls from Vishant Kudnekar, who runs the O’Pinhal Buckingham shack at Calangute beach.