'1996: Key Events

• The Lok Sabha election takes place, with the BJP emerging as India’s single largest party, but short of a majority.

• A.B. Vajpayee’s government collapses after 13 days, and is replaced by a multi-party coalition under H.D. Deve Gowda.

• The Michael Jackson show is organised in Bombay by Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray.

• In a year dominated by political corruption, the ‘Jain Hawala’ case involves alleged kickbacks by a businessman to several Cabinet Ministers and other noted politicians, former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao is indicted in the ‘St Kitts forgery’ case and former telecommuni- cations minister Sukh Ram’s house is raided by the CBI which finds Rs 3 crore in cash and jewellery.

• The Port Blair station of Doordarshan is inaugurated.

• Shyam Benegal’s Making of the Mahatma is released in India and South Africa.

• N.T. Rama Rao? dies.