Another Sino-Indian bid to generate trust
India and China will hold high-level political consultations tomorrow amid a conscious diplomatic effort by the two governments to lend some transparency to their political moves and reassure each other of their peaceful intentions.

Governor was right, says Jayalalitha
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha, today insisted that the Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, was correct in swearing her as the Chief Minister despite the electoral disqualification.

B.B. Tandon may become EC
Mr. Brij Bihari Tandon, Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, is tipped to become one of the Election Commissioners. The Election Commission will have a vacancy when Dr. M. S. Gill retires as the Chief Election Commissioner in June. Mr. Tandon, an IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre of the 1965 batch, is to retire on June 30.

Governor's reservations keep Pillai out of Cabinet
The Kerala Governor, Mr. S.S. Kang, today expressed his reservations about inducting the Kerala Congress (B) leader, Mr. R. Balakrishna Pillai, who has been convicted in the graphite case, as a Minister in the Antony Cabinet.

Talks with ASEAN will ease tension: PM
The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, said here today that an India-ASEAN security dialogue could help create a new post-Cold War security construct free of confrontation and tension.

LDF defeated by gang-up of communal forces: CPI(M)
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today blamed the `gang-up' of all caste and communal forces against the Left Democratic Front for the debacle in Kerala and reiterated its charge that the Congress-led UDF had sought support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Musharraf ready to visit Delhi for talks
The Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has said that he is prepared to go to Delhi for talks provided India is willing to ``move forward'' on Kashmir.

Killing of Bishops condemned
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) today condemned the killing of three Bishops by militants at Ngarian in Manipur last evening.