New Delhi - India's political crisis deepened yesterday after efforts by the opposition leader, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to form a new government fell foul of a key ally, fuelling fears of fresh elections.
Nevertheless, Ms Gandhi's Congress party was sticking by its pledge to form a viable minority government today to replace the Hindu nationalist-led coalition of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, which collapsed at the weekend.
An outlawed landowners' militia massacred 12 villagers in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, renewing demands for the dismissal of the provincial government, officials said yesterday.