Head Line:

• Pranab says young Rahul could be PM soon (TOI)
• Cong wants Soren to quit as CM, Party Feels Keeping Him On The Chair Will Sully UPA's Image (TOI)
• Govt's liberalisation policy behind Satyam fraud, says CPM(IE)

LEAD:

Congress stalwart, external affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said that Rahul Gandhi may soon take over as the country's PM, giving fresh fillip to speculation about the party's timeframe for the young party general secretary's elevation to the top job. "The days are not far off when Rahul Gandhi may follow his father's footsteps,'' Mukherjee said at a conference of overseas Indians, adding that the late Rajiv Gandhi had become PM at the age of 40. Mukherjee's remark came in reply to a question in which he also mentioned other young leaders just-elected J&K CM Omar Abdullah, for instance. Yet, the timing of the remark, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, and the fact that the external affairs minister is not given to casual talk, invested it with far greater significance. As a matter of fact, last year, the party leadership had censured HRD minister Arjun Singh when he said that Rahul should take over the reins from Manmohan Singh. This time on, however, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh came up with a full-scale endorsement of Mukherjee, arguably the most seasoned voice in the party. The Congress spokesman also pitched in with praise. "He (Rahul) has all the qualities to lead the nation,'' party spokesman Shakil Ahmed said. "The new generation sees him as its representative.'' (TOI)

• Chennai/Delhi: External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee's comment on Rahul Gandhi as PM, ties in well with a conspicuous effort by the party to set the stage for the imminent ascension. The Congress PR machine has seized upon a young Omar Abdullah's taking over as J&K CM to buttress its own credentials as the party of youth. The party even suggested that it had nudged Farooq Abdullah to step aside for his son. Simultaneously, the party had mocked the BJP for projecting octogenarian L K Advani as its choice for PM, in what appeared to be an attempt to appeal to the young as well as to frame the coming elections as a contest between old and youth. Clearly, a septuagenarian Manmohan Singh would not fit in this gameplan. Congress settled on Manmohan Singh because of his high-trust quotient. And while the PM has retained the trust, sources say that his continuation beyond 2009 will depend not just on whether Congress stitches up another coalition but also on when Rahul, assuming a favourable verdict, is ready to take the baton. (TOI)
• Chennai: The rising tension in West Asia is a matter of concern for India, said PM Manmohan Singh here on Thursday, urging the international community to work together to restore peace in the region at the earliest, even as he refrained from naming Israel as the antagonist in the ongoing conflict. Inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual conclave of non-resident Indians, here on Thursday, the PM pointed out that there were five million Indians working in the Gulf. "We are, therefore, concerned at the rise in tension in the region as a result of the attack in Gaza that has led to the needless loss of many innocent lives," he said. Nearly 600 people have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in which Israel artillery, backed by its air force, has been pounding the Gaza strip for the past 11 days in retaliation to the continuing rocket attack by Hamas cadre. (IE)
• New Delhi: A judicial inquiry has conceded that a Supreme Court judge might have been present in the house of Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Nirmaljit Kaur on the fateful evening when a bag containing Rs 15 lakh was delivered at her door on August 13, 2008. This sensational disclosure was made in a three-page letter written by another high court judge, Nirmal Yadav, on Wednesday to Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan, responding to his notice of the inquiry finding that the money was actually meant for her. The notice issued on December 25 was accompanied by the report of a three-judge committee appointed by the CJI to probe the August 13 delivery of cash at Justice Kaur's residence. In her reply, which is in possession of TOI, Justice Yadav said, "The committee itself records that a judge of the SC and a senior judge of the high court may have been present in the house at the time of delivery of the cash."(TOI)
• New Delhi: Samajwadi Party on Thursday announced a list of 29 candidates for Lok Sabha in UP, in a desperate bid to force Congress to consummate the seat-sharing talks on which SP feels AICC is dragging its feet to secure a better bargain. SP said that seat-sharing needed to be completed fast as the alliance had to take on BSP chief Mayawati who was going fast with her poll preparations. The SP named cinestar Sanjay Dutt from Lucknow and Jaya Prada from Rampur but desisted from announcing many seats it holds, showing that it was keeping the doors open for a compromise on "sitting-getting" formula for a tie-up with Congress. Congress has laid claims to Pratapgarh, Padrauna, Farrukhabad and Gonda which are held by SP or its supporters. It shows the SP may either concede them for an alliance with Congress or agree to "friendly fights", a concept forwarded by AICC negotiators Rahul Gandhi, Digvijay Singh and Rita Bahuguna Joshi. (TOI)
• New Delhi: Satyam Computer Services Ltd today said it had just enough cash to give December salaries to its 51,000 employees, but was not sure the money could be paid in January. In his first press conference after taking charge as the outsourcing company's interim CEO, Ram Mynampati said: "Salaries for December will be covered, but the liquidity position is not encouraging at all. We are looking at options on how to improve liquidity." Analysts say Satyam's monthly salary bill adds up to Rs 600-700 crore. Mynampati said "he did not know" if the company had that much. He said the company was speaking to its top 100 clients who provide almost 80% of revenues, and had received expressions of support from key customers. (IE)

MANMOHAN SINGH & GOVT

Addressing a large gathering of overseas Indians in Chennai during an annual conclave on Thursday, PM Manmohan Singh and foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee warned the world of the threat posed by terrorism to liberal traditions and wanted India's friends and well-wishers to do much more than expressing sympathy and words of encouragement. "We'll continue to work with the international community to ensure there're no safe havens and launching pads for terrorists,'' the PM said while inaugurating Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2009 at the Chennai Trade Centre. "The recent attacks in Mumbai were a grim reminder of the threat posed by extremism and terrorism to our pluralistic and liberal traditions,'' he said, adding that even though many didn't like to see India succeed, it had shown that it would not allow terrorism to destabilize it. Mukherjee was more direct, as he accused Pakistan of recalcitrance in acting against those behind 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. "After more than a month of the operation, there continues to be recalcitrance in bringing the perpetrators to justice,'' he said. (TOI)

BJP

In a big blow to BJP at a time when the party is trying to gear up for Lok Sabha elections, party veteran Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Thursday sharpened his challenge by presenting himself as a rival to L K Advani's projection as the party's prime ministerial candidate. The former vice-president, who had travelled to Delhi from Jaipur, fired his salvos at a press conference at his residence here despite BJP chief Rajnath Singh having clearly indicated that Shekhawat's bid to enter the poll race was not in sync with the party's views. "Advaniji may be the PM candidate, but others too can contest Lok Sabha polls. He is not the only one contesting elections," he told reporters, also asserting that he was the "seniormost" when asked about his opinion on Advani being the PM-in-waiting. When asked about other leaders in BJP like Rajnath Singh and Jaswant Singh, Shekhawat said "But age-wise I am the seniormost," adding he would contest LS elections if his health permits. On whether the party took a hasty decision in nominating Advani as its PM candidate, he said, "The party is free to take a decision in this regard." His almost dismissive comments made it evident that he does not see the matter as closed and the BJP veteran's repeated claims that he is no longer a party member do not seem to have convinced any one.(TOI)

CONGRESS

Congress has made it plain that it would want Shibu Soren to quit the CM's post after his defeat in the bypoll, but may have to be part of fresh permutations to put in a replacement. JMM chief Soren was likely to reach the capital along with Madhu Koda and Bandhu Tirkey for talks with Congress leadership. RJD chief and railway minister Lalu Prasad is a key player in Jharkhand politics and a final decision may have to await unanimity among all key power brokers. Soren would have to leave the top post as Congress feels that any fresh move to find technicalities to keep him in the chair would further sully the image of ruling UPA alliance which has witnessed a game of musical chairs over the CM's post. Soren's ascension was part of compromise which was struck when Congress was desperately mopping up numbers to secure majority in the July 22 trust vote over the nuclear deal. While the party is also looking at President's rule to fill the gap, it would set the stage for assembly polls alongside the Lok Sabha. Soren group is also keen on early elections given that 'Guruji' is ruled out for top job in the current tenure of the assembly. This seems a viable option but would require the nod of Lalu. The latter is keen on continuing with the current assembly with Koda at the helm of affairs. He is keen on a friendly regime in Ranchi for many reasons.(TOI)

LEFT PARTIES

The Satyam fraud has come in handy for the CPI(M) to attack the UPA Govt's economic policies once again. While demanding that B Ramalinga Raju be taken into custody in view of his admission of guilt, the party on Thursday reminded the Govt that such corporate frauds have been encouraged by its policy of deregulation and liberalisation. The red brigade asked the Congress dispensation to learn lessons from this episode and desist from further emulating the "failed system" of the US and suggested that corporate regulations need an overhaul in India in order to discipline big business. "The shocking revelation of an over Rs 7,000 crore fraud by the promoters of Satyam Computers has shown that Indian big business has started emulating the worst corrupt practices of their counterparts in the advanced capitalist countries, especially the US," the CPI(M) central committee said. (IE)

STATES

ANDHRA PRADESH

Leaders of Telugu Desam Party, CPI (M) and CPI have charged the Andhra Pradesh govt with allocating works to the tune of thousands of crores to Maytas Infrastructure and held Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy also responsible for the crisis in Satyam Computer Services Limited along with the company chairman, B. Ramalinga Raju. Speaking at the 'political conclave' organised by the three parties here on Thursday, they alleged that the fraud in Satyam Computer had taken place with the knowledge of the govt and demanded that all the documents related to Satyam and Maytas be made public. Addressing a public meeting, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu said this was the first time an IT company in the country had collapsed putting 53,000 software professionals in dilemma. He wanted the govt to provide job security for the employees and render justice to the investors by booking the culprits in the fraud.(HINDU)

ASSAM

A 20-year-old Ulfa terrorist, who police had earlier claimed to have triggered the January 1 serial blasts in Guwahati, was gunned down by the Army in lower Assam on Thursday. Pranjal Deka alias Biju Sarania or Bhambal was killed in an encounter between troops and Ulfa terrorists at Halikuchi on the border between Baksa and Kamrup districts at 6.45pm, an officer from the Army's Rangiyabased Red Horns Division said. Sources said the encounter broke out when Deka and another Ulfa terrorist were trying to escape from Halikuchi after Armymen had spotted them. "We're searching for Pranjal and others following a tip-off from intelligence wings. Pranjal and an unidentified terrorist were killed during the operation,'' a security source said.(TOI)

J&K

A day after Army guards shot a physically challenged man allegedly trying to intrude into a high-security Army premises housing officers at Gupkar, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah said that those found guilty would be dealt in accordance with the law. A Jammu and Kashmir Govt spokesperson in Srinagar said the CM was personally monitoring the probe. "The Army has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident and the CM is personally monitoring the probe. The civil administration had nothing to do with the incident and the CM has assured that those found guilty after the probe would be dealt in accordance with the law," the spokesperson said. Abdul Rashid Rishi, 45, a deaf and dumb man from Veer village in Pahalgam in Anatnag district, was killed late on Tuesday in the fortified Gupkar road area. (IE)

RAJASTHAN

CM Ashok Gehlot has confirmed that he received a letter, dashed by Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, asking him to probe the corruption charges levelled against former CM Vasundhra Raje. "I have asked authorities to examine the letter and probe the matter," he said. He said the BJP leader made several charges against the party CM and her govt. ''I have already made a statement in the Assembly to investigate the matter," Mr Gehlot said.(AA)

UTTAR PRADESH

The Samajwadi Party's unilateral decision to announce candidates for 29 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, in an apparent attempt to break the impasse over its seat-sharing talks with the Congress, has put a question mark on the decision-making process in the ruling party at the Centre. Though enthused by the recent Assembly election results, the Congress remains in a state of suspended animation with many crucial issues pending decisions and the party missing many of its deadlines and targets in the process. According to senior Congress leaders, the A K Antony committee report a somewhat mysterious document quoted by many though read by few in the ruling party had recommended the declaration of party candidates three months ahead of Lok Sabha elections. The ruling party is set to miss the deadline. (IE)

WEST BENGAL

The recent arrest of a deputy superintendent of police in the CBI, Special Crime Branch, has come as a shot in the arm for the CPI(M) in Bengal before the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. The CBI officer booked, Partha Sarathi Bose, happened to be one of the key investigators in at least half-a-dozen criminal cases in which important functionaries of the CPI(M) had been indicted. While Bose was caught accepting a bribe red-handed, the arrest comes as a welcome means for the party to cleanse its tarnished image in several politically sensitive cases. The cases under investigation by the CBI some of which had already been charge-sheeted had far-reaching consequences. The CPI(M) in Bengal has, therefore, stepped up its legal cell and is about to launch a statewide campaign to highlight how " the party had falsely been implicated by CBI officers whose very integrity was under clouds," said senior party officers. Incidentally, Partha Sarathi Bose earlier boss in the CBI, A K Sahay, was similarly disgraced when a CBI team from Delhi raided his premises and unearthed assets alleged to be disproportionate to his income. (IE)

EDITORIAL

Lesson for Guruji: By-elections tend to go little noticed, ignored by all except perhaps the concerned politician and wonkish party strategists. But the Tamar bypoll in Jharkhand will be an exception, and not just for the fact that Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren has lost there by 8000 votes. It will not be misplaced or unkind to remark that Soren's defeat is a victory for democracy for the ideal it aspires to and the mechanism by which it works. The bypoll result is dramatic and significant in that a serving CM doesn't lose an election every day. It is no less significant for the defeat it means for a certain kind of politics. It is a politics needing little definition or elaboration, personified as it is in Soren's chequered career, in Govt and in opposition, both at the state and Union levels. Also, in his performance as the Union minister for coal in two stints. Not to mention his two spells both mired in controversy as the Jharkhand CM, and the criminal cases he has had against him.(IE)