Goa, July 25 -- The third round of talks between representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Centre is set to take place today, with the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emerging as the main sticking point. After the previous round of discussions, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka said there were encouraging signs on two of the party's three key demands, but no breakthrough had been reached on Pradhan's removal. The issue has now turned into the central fault line in the ongoing standoff.

Soon after, sources in the government dismissed the possibility of the minister stepping down, saying resignation would be the easiest way out but not the answer. "People have given us the mandate, ...