SHILLONG, March 6 — Differences within the newly-formed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) led by Chief Minister DD Lapang cropped up immediately after the allocation of portfolios Wednesday evening. There is considerable resentment among the ranks of the United Democratic Party (UDP) which is the second largest party in the new coalition with nine members after the Congress which has a solid chunk of 22. UDP president and former Chief Minister AK Mawlong is reported to have expressed dissatisfaction over the issue at a meeting with Pradesh Congress chief Salseng C Marak here Wednesday.

UDP...

GUWAHATI, March 6— The Chief Minister, Sri Tarun Gogoi today announced that he would be keen to visit any country to initiate dialogue with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) if he is acceptable to both the Central Government and the militant outfit. Replying to the discussion on the cut motions on the supplementary demand for grant for the Police department, Sri Gogoi said in the State Assembly that the Mizoram Chief Minister went to foreign countries to meet the NSCN leaders as he is acceptable to both the Centre and the militant. “If I am acceptable to both the concerned parties, I...

GUWAHATI, March 6 — In what should sound as a very welcome development to prospective investors, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has evinced keen interest to finance viable and feasible projects in the State and the North-east. “The North-east has the scope to develop and do well in different fields, and especially in the power sector, its potential is immense and we will definitely welcome any proposal for consideration, IFC Country Manager Hafeezuddin Ahmad who is based at Dhaka, told The Assam Tribune here today.

“We have, in fact, received quite a few proposals so far out of...

KOHIMA, March 6 — A 28-member Democratic Alliance of Nagaland Ministry headed by Neiphiu Rio was today sworn in Nagaland, bringing to office the first non-Congress dispensation in the state in a decade, reports PTI. Of the ministers, 22 were of cabinet rank and six of state whose portfolios would be announced very soon, the Chief Minister said. He hinted there could be further expansion “as and when required”.

The DAN, a conglomerate of five regional and non-Congress political parties, enjoys a strength of 38 in the 60-member house with support of four independents. All DAN constituents, the...

NEW DELHI, March 5 — The creation of the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is likely to be delayed, with the Ministry of Home Affairs today declining to fix a time-frame to introduce the amendments to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, ID Sami said that there was no firm time-frame fixed in the memorandum of settlement (MoS) to introduce the Bills in the Parliament. Some of the provisions of the MoS require amendments to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and the Constitution...