Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi expanded his Council of Ministers by inducting 12 new members, including two of cabinet rank, nine ministers of state and one deputy minister. With this expansion, the strength of the Council of Ministers becomes 58 with due representation to all the states, especially Punjab, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. Gandhiji removed the Foreign Minister Bali Ram Bhagat.

Shiromani Akali Dal reiterates its confidence in Barnala The Akali Dal Working Committee reiterated its “complete” confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister and party president Surjit Singh Barnala. It reiterated its satisfaction at the liberation of the Golden Temple complex from “extremists and separatists” as per the instructions of “Sarbat Khalsa”.

The SGPC executive, which held a separate meeting to call for Akali unity in the interest of the “sect”, attended the meeting to support its motion of confirmation of confidence in Barnala. Advani reorganizes BJP Advertisement Bharatiya Janata Party President LK Advani carried out a large-scale restructuring of the party’s national executive, replacing old office-bearers with young leaders.

Advani, who announced the restructuring at a press conference, removed three vice-presidents, four general secretaries, five secretaries and three treasurers. A record number of fifteen new members were added. The election boycott in Nepal was ignored, despite calls from most of the outlawed political parties in the Himalayan state that the elections be boycotted, the Nepali people went to the polls to elect a new National Assembly.

Men and women enthusiastically moved forward to stamp their candidates’ election symbols on their ballot papers. A total of 1,548 people are in the fray for 112 seats in the 140-member unicameral legislature. The other 28 members will be nominated by King Birendra.