New Delhi, Sept 25 : Jana Krishnamurthy, the former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), passed away of renal failure today at a hospital in Chennai. He was 79.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has condoled the death of Krishnamurthy.

In his condolence message, Vajpayee said that he was deeply saddened by Krishnamurthy’s demise.

Bhopal: The BJP stated that it would set aside 33% seats for women at all levels of the party hierarchy.

The decision came almost eight years after the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress reserve one-third of seats in the party group for women.

L.K. Advani, opposition leader told that the BJP would also reserve 33% seats for women in Assembly and parliamentary elections provided a law made it obligatory for all political parties.

As it showed off its gender-sensitivity, the BJP took a swipe at the Left.

Chennai, Sept. 25: A case has been registered against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ram Vilas Vedanti, who allegedly issued a ‘fatwa’ against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi.

The case was filed last night on a complaint by a city resident, Dhananchezhian.

Vendanti has been charged for "promoting enmity between various communities, committing acts prejudicial to maintaining communal harmony and making statement conducive to public mischief," police said.

Islamabad, Sep 25: Pakistan’s Supreme Court (SC) has observed that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) could not act as court and strike down any law.

The nine-member bench of the SC headed by Justice Rana Bhagwandas was hearing the Constitutional petitions challenging President Pervez Musharraf’s dual offices. The apex court dismissed three of them.

The bench asked Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Malik Qayyum why the disqualification clauses meant for a parliamentarian’s election could not be applied to the presidential poll.

New Delhi, Sept 25: President Pratibha Patil will inaugurate the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference here today.

Parliamentary Affairs, and Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi will lead the Indian Parliamentary delegation.

Indian delegation will take part in various workshops in the next few days on the matters related to women empowerment, global warming, environment, women's role in Parliament, sustainable water development, Opposition's role in Parliamentary system among others.