Ashok Chavan, Industry minister in the Vilasrao Deshmukh government and son of former Maharashtra chief minister SB Chavan seems to be the frontrunner in the race to the CM post in Maharashtra.

He is believed to have outrun revenue minister Narayan Rane even though Rane, who was the CM during the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government in the late nineties, lobbied hard in a spirit of do-or-die.

Other contenders comprised Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil, MP and sugar baron and Union ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 4 : The Congress - led UDF stalled proceedings in the Kerala Assembly on Thursday, demanding a discussion over the contrasting statements made by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Oommen Chandy alleged that Achuthanandan had committed a breach of privilege by claiming that he had already expressed regret in the Assembly about his comments on the family of slain NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.

Kishangarh (Rajasthan), Nov. 27 : Congress party general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that terror attacks in the country could only be tackled if the people remained united.

Speaking before addressing a party rally here, Gandhi said: "This is the time to remain united to face the challenge of terrorism."

He claimed the all terrorists wanted to divide the country, but people and the government should face up to their challenge and thwart their evil designs.

New Delhi, Nov 26 : Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will campaign at Delhi on Wednesday.

The Gandhi scion will address the rally in GTB Enclave in Dilshad Garden, which is part of the Seemapuri constituency.

This will be the first ever election rally of Rahul Gandhi in the capital which is going to polls on November 29.

Nominees from other nearby constituencies will attend the rally besides Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and other party MPs.

Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi has already addressed an election rally in Mongolpuri.

Narsinghpur/Jabalpur (MP), Nov 25: Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi has refuted the BJP''s allegations of being soft on terror.

Addressing a public rally in Gadarbada town of Narsinghpur District on Monday, Gandhi said: "It was whose rule when our parliament was attacked? Was it Congress'' rule or BJP ? Tell me, whose rule was it? Besides this they are asking an account of 50 years of our rule. Such people are asking, who since independence have been poisoning the society and dividing the people. Such people should feel ashamed,"

Though elections to several state assemblies are being held over the next two months, politicians of all hues from Punjab will be playing a key role in these elections directly or indirectly.

Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, the Leader of opposition in Punjab, has already jumped into the election field of Delhi. People turned up in large numbers to attend rallies addressed by Bibi Bhattal on Monday.