Violence in Bihar has forced the Eastern Railway authorities to cancel seven trains that pass through Bihar.  

"Though there has been no news of any fresh violence on this day, the railway authorities did not want to take any chances," said an Eastern Railway official.

The cancelled trains list includes Bhagalpur-New Delhi Vikramshila Express, the Bhagalpur-Muzaffarpur Jansewa Express, the Sealdah- Balia Express, the Howrah-Patna Janshatabdi Express, the Howrah-Hardwar Puja Special, the Howrah-Raxaul Mithila Express and the Sealdah-Jaynagar Gangasagar Express, an ER press release said. The Sealdah-Udaipur Ananya Express was diverted via Pradhankhunta.

Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Mohammad Yasin Malik and president of Jamiat-e-Ahlahadees Moulana Showkat Shah were arrested on Wednesday night. The police arrested them on the charges of launching an anti- election campaign in north Kashmir.

A senior police officer of the state has confirmed their arrest and said that both of were lodged in Submal Police station.

Their arrests have sparked protests in Maisuma area. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the angry protesters.

These two break-out factions of Hurriyat Coneference have planned for anti-election campaign through out the valley.

Meanwhile the National Conference has launched its election campaign.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Thurs

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader, Raj Thackeray, was let off on interim bail on Wednesday, after spending a night at the Manpada police station, Thane.

On Tuesday MNS workers were at their boisterous best, destroying property, indulging in arson and wreaking havoc all over the state of Maharashtra. Things calmed down a little on Wednesday when the proceedings shifted to the Kalyan court, where Mr. Thackeray was produced in relation with a case registered at the Kalyan railway police station on October 19. The allegation against him was setting off attacks on North Indian students appearing for a Railway Recruitment Board examination. The court accepted his anticipatory bail application.

The National Conference (NC) set the poll campaign rolling on Wednesday. It organized a rally at the sports stadium where around 3,000 people, mostly delegates, gathered to listen to Omar Abdullah who kicked off his party’s campaign.

“We realise that this time campaigning will not be easy. We have to tread a difficult path and we are ready for it. We deliberately chose the workers’ convention to kick-off our campaign. From tomorrow, we will have a full-fledged campaign in villages and other areas,” said the NC president. 

MNS chief Raj Thackeray will appear in Mumbai's Wikroli court on Thursday. The Maharastra Govt. has filed another petition against Raj, seeking cancellation of his bail plea in a different case.

"The State government is seeking the legal opinion on the execution of the non-bailable warrant issued by Jamshedpur magistrate's court against Raj Thackeray and Police will follow all necessary legal procedures in the matter," Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said.