New Delhi - India's ruling Congress Party Monday won three of the five state elections that were seen as a political barometer for the country's upcoming general elections against the backdrop of terrorist attacks and the economic slowdown.

Results from the Election Commission showed the Congress Party retained power in the national capital New Delhi for a third five-year term while it recorded a landslide victory in the north-eastern state of Mizoram.

New Delhi, Dec 8 : The Congress Party is back in power in Rajasthan and Mizoram and retained Delhi; while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been able to hold Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The emerging results to Assembly polls show a 3:2 split in favour of Congress, providing a much-needed boost to the Congress-led UPA just ahead of general elections due in April-May 2009.

Congress headed for a hatrick today in Delhi, bagging 42 seats, leaving its rival BJP way behind with 23 seats.

New Delhi, Dec 8 : Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalswamy has said that the Lok Sabha elections are to be held on schedule in April-May next year, adding that there is no particular interest to advance the dates unless it is necessary.

The general elections in the country are held just before the end of the government’s tenure, he said.

Gopalaswamy today strongly advocated on the public to exert pressure to cleanse the political system from criminal elements.

New Delhi, Dec 8 : A passionate buss from boyfriend turned into “the kiss of deaf” for a young lady – as the smooch ruptured her eardrum.

The 20-something girl from Zhuhai, Guangdong province, reported to hospital completely deaf in her left ear soon after the painful pucker, reports China Daily

And according to Dr Li, an ear specialist, from Zhuhai Second People''s Hospital, it would take at least two months for the girl’s hearing to return to normal.

New Delhi, Dec 8 : Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today severely criticised politicizing the issue of terrorism.

She was speaking to the media even as the results of the assembly polls were trickling in.

According to initial reports, Congress was leading in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was ahead in Madhya Pradesh and in Chhattisgarh.

The main opposition BJP during its election campaigning had slammed the Congress for failing to check terror incidences in the country.

New Delhi - India's benchmark Sensex surged by over 4 per cent in trading on Monday, buoyed by the government's fiscal measures, including a
4-billion-dollar package to counter the downturn in the economy.

The 30-share-sensitive index of the Bombay Stock Exchange shot up by 370.96 points - an increase of 4.14 per cent - and was quoted at 9,336.16, at 3 pm (9.30 GMT), five hours after trading opened.

The broader 50-share Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange also rose by 3.91 per cent and was ruling at 2,820 levels.