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SC order on Sidhu will boost SAD-BJP fortunes
Chandigarh, January 23
Today’s decision of the Supreme Court of India, allowing former Indian cricketer and former Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu to contest the ensuing Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections, will have a major impact on the electoral fortunes of the SAD-BJP alliance.
Sidhu confidant gets ticket
BJP celebrates with sweets
Capt Kanwaljit promises tax-free regime
Dera Bassi, January 23
Putting his populist foot forward, the former Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, today promised a zero tax regime besides promising a host of sops to all sections of society if the SAD-BJP alliance was voted to power in the February 13 Assembly elections.
Dullo files papers; says wife his poll manager
Khanna January 23
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president, Mr Shamsher Singh
Dullo, today filed the nomination papers from the Khanna (reserved) constituency as a Congress candidate. He was accompanied by his wife, Ms Harbans Kaur
Dullo, the sitting MLA from here. She filed the papers as the covering candidate.
Kang invokes divine help
Chandigarh, January 23
It’s barely seven in the morning but the flurry of activity at Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang’s residence in the ministers’ complex here is comparable to a household hosting a Punjabi wedding.
Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang pays obeisance at the Mansa Devi temple before filing his nomination from the Morinda constituency on Tuesday. — Tribune
photo by Pradeep Tewari |
 |
PPCC secy Harry joins SAD
Ghanaur/Gharam (Patiala), January 23
Encouraged with the defection of former PPCC secretary Harry Mann to the SAD today, its general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that atrocities committed on people had triggered a wave of defection in the Congress rank and file.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Harinder Pal Singh (Harry Mann) and Mr Sukhbir Badal at a
party meeting in Patiala on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Rajesh Sachar |
 |
BKU: One body, two voices
Chandigarh, January 23
While the Bharti Kisan Union led by Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal has extended support to the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the faction headed by Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann has announced it will back Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his party in the Assembly elections.
Pathankot to vote for district status
Pathankot, January 23
For a long time, people here have been demanding district status for the town. Demand continues to persist, so do promises by leaders. There have been several agitations, including an immolation attempt, in this regard.
Poll revives Goindwal’s dreams
Goindwal Sahib (Tarn Taran), January 23
Twenty-six years have lapsed since a master plan was finalised for developing Goindwal Sahib as the country’s first industrial nucleus complex.
Yet, for realising the dream, successive governments at the Centre and the state have turned no stones, except for the foundation stone laid down by India’s former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
I will not support Balbir Sidhu, says Gharuan
Mohali, January 23
“I will not support Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu, Congress candidate from the Kharar constituency, for the Punjab Assembly elections as he is allegedly involved in the distribution of liquor and other intoxicants among the people, especially the younger generation, during election rallies,” stated Mr Harnek Singh
Gharuan, former Congress minister, at a press conference here today. He was accompanied by Mr Bharat Bhushan Maini, former senior vice-president of the Mohali Municipal Council, among others.
CODE UNCODE
Cavalcades choke road traffic
Gurdaspur, January 23
Political heavyweights from this district, including Pratap Singh Bajwa
(Kahnuwan), his brother Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa (Sri Hargobindpur), Mr Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa (Qadian) and Nirmal Singh Kahlon (Fatehgarh Churian), filed their nomination papers today.
Dancing to parties’ tune
Jalandhar, January 23
As the Assembly elections draw near, small-time singers and dancers are in a great demand, especially from political parties eager to entertain the public with peppy numbers.
As big names like Sabjit Cheema, Harbhajan Mann and Malkit Singh generally avoid performing in rural areas, these small-time singers are preferred to draw village folks.
"This time dancers are also in demand. Dressed in gorgeous costumes, they attract the public with their performances, mostly based on folksongs and parodies on film songs," says Mr Jatinder Pal Singh of Raja No. 1, a Ludhiana-based musical group. |
 |
Cong nominee files papers
Ropar, January 23
Exhibiting his show of strength by a huge
procession of party workers and supporters, sitting Congress MLA Ramesh Dutt
Sharma today filed his nomination papers from the Anandpur Sahib Assembly
constituency here before the Returning Officer, Ropar, Mr Parminder Singh Gill,
this evening.
Cong candidate files nomination
Rajpura, January 23
Mr Hardyal Singh Kamboj, Congress candidate from the Rajpura Assembly constituency, today filed his nomination papers at the office of the SDM, Mr APS Virk, who is also the Returning Officer.
317 more file nominations
Chandigarh, January 23
As many as 317 candidates today filed their nominations for the Assembly elections. They include stalwarts of the ruling Congress and the Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).
Mann files papers as Independent
Mohali, January 23
Tarlochan Singh Mann today filed his nomination
papers from the Kharar constituency as an Independent candidate. Before coming
to Mohali to file his papers he held a rally at Kharar.
Clueless, Elephant in trouble
Jalandhar, January 23
Factionalism within the BSP, ouster of its senior leaders, death of party founder and stalwart Kanshi Ram and its resultant downfall is likely to prove advantageous to the Congress in the Doaba region.
On foot or cycle, they too are in the race
A BSP rebel, Mr Kesar Singh, on way to file his nominations for the Nabha Assembly constituency; and (right) Mr Kashmir Singh of the
CPI (ML New Democracy) with his supporters on Tuesday. — Tribune photographs
‘Candidates must refrain from defacing public property’
Mohali, January 23
Defacement of public property by the candidates will not be allowed during the Punjab Assembly elections in the district.
Orders to this effect were given by the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Returning Officer, Mr Tejveer Singh.
Defections galore on CM’s turf
Patiala, January 23
Despite the fact that Patiala is the home turf of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his wife and MP Preneet Kaur, the maximum number of defections by political bigwigs has been from this very part of the state.
POLL BYTES
Six quit as chairperson
Cong manifesto
to skip SEZ issue
New Delhi, January 22
As the controversy over the
sensitive issue of special economic zones (SEZs) continues unabated,
the Congress has decided it will be wise not to dwell on the matter in
the party’s election manifesto for Punjab.
Punjab
Votes' 07
Three men trip
— Badal, son, Sant
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Badal
files papers amid code violation
Malout, January
22
A former Chief Minister
and SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today filed his
nomination papers from the Lambi Assembly constituency here
amid violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
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Sukhbir
flouts poll code
Gidderbaha, January
22
A case of violation of
the Model Code of Conduct came to the fore in Gidderbaha when
a helicopter landed in the town to pick up SAD general
secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal.
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Sant
gets notice from RO
Ropar, January 22
The SDM-cum-Returning
Officer, Ropar, Mr Parminder Singh Gill, today issued a notice
to the SAD patron Sant Ajit Singh. The Sant was
accompanied by party workers in a cavalcade of vehicles, when
he came to file his papers.
|
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Doesn’t
own a car
|
Amritsar:
BJP leaves it to Rajnath
New Delhi,
January 22
The Bharatiya Janata Party has authorised its chief Rajnath Singh to
name its candidate for the Amritsar Lok Sabha byelection as different
leaders from Punjab have started mounting pressure on the party for
the party ticket in case former cricketer-turned MP Navjot Singh
Sidhu’s application seeking a stay on his conviction is allowed by
the Supreme Court.
BSP fields
Arjun for LS seat
Amritsar, January 22
The Bahujan Samaj Party today fielded former president of the Durgiana
Managing Committee Surinder Arjun from the Amritsar parliamentary
seat.
CEO
clarifies
Chandigarh, January 22
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, Mr Sundram Krishna, had not
used the word dirty and bitter while referring to the ongoing campaign
for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections.
Landmine-hit want some space
Naushera Dhalla (Tarn Taran), January 22
Five years have lapsed since a landmine blast in the passive hamlet of
Naushera Dhalla in Tarn Taran district blew apart their lives to
shreds, yet governments at the Centre and the state have done little
to launch an operation to rehabilitate the victims and their families.
Raghbir Singh with a photograph of
landmine victim Balwinder Singh at Naushara Dhalla in Tarn Taran on
Monday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma
 Balbir disputes Bir’s claim
Mohali, January 22
Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu, Congress candidate for the Kharar constituency,
said today that the leaders, who had been denied the ticket, could be
adjusted in various organisations on the basis of their political
experiences. He rubbished the allegation that he gave Rs 5 crore to a
Congress leader to get the ticket.
Balbir Singh Sidhu
 Her turn: Sohi also calls for ticket review
Zirakpur, January 22
Ms Seelam Sohi, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) general
secretary, who has been denied the ticket from the Banur Assembly
constituency, may repeat a Bir Devinder in Banur.
Seelam Sohi
Deepa to
contest as Independent
Sangrur, January 22
Mr Rajinder Deepa, who was denied the Congress ticket from Sunam,
today announced his decision to contest as an Independent.
SAD-BJP
set for comeback, claims Kanwaljit
Mohali, January 22
SAD General Secretary Capt Kanwaljit Singh today claimed that the
SAD-BJP combine was all set to stage a comeback with two-thirds
majority, “as the Congress is reeling under revolt of its leaders
and cadre in almost whole of Punjab”.
ME
AND MYSELF
This
Badal loves Faiz
Chandigarh, January 22
Besides rural indebtedness, deaths caused by cancer in Malwa area,
especially Mansa, Rama Mandi, Lambi, Gidderbaha and adjoining areas,
have emerged as a big election issue.
Manpreet Singh Badal
Vets:
Explain, says CEO
Chandigarh, January 22
Taking note of the posting of veterinarians on poll duty in violation
of the ECI order, the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, has sought
explanation from the Deputy Commissioners concerned and written to
other DCs in this respect.
Poll
campaign picks up steam
Ghanaur, January 22
With the last date for filing nominations, January 25, drawing close,
the election campaign is picking up the momentum in the Ghanaur
Assembly constituency.
Mann gets
women’s support
Mohali, January 22
Mr Tarlochan Singh Mann, an Independent, today gathered support of
women in the area. A number of women, including Mrs Swaranjeet Kaur,
president of the Balongi unit of the Mahila Suraksha Samiti, and
social worker Kulwant Kaur participated in the poll campaign. They
visited various villages like Saneta, Mundi Kharar, Ballomajra,
Badmajra, Chhajumajra and Fatehulapur.
district
report
Going
by voting pattern, Cong needs to watch out
Gurdaspur, January 22
If the last 30-year history of elections in this district is an
indication, there is a cause for the Congress to worry. The district
has voted in favour of the Congress and the SAD/BJP, alternatively.
DCs asked
to ensure fair poll
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 22
Mrs Manisha Nanda, Finance Secretary, Himachal Government, who has
been appointed the Election Observer for the Patiala division by the
Election Commission of India, held a meeting of all Deputy
Commissioners (DCs) of the Patiala division here today to review the
arrangements for the coming Assembly elections.
 CODE-UNCODE
Defiance
unabated
Jalandhar, January 22
Despite the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Returning Officer (DRO),
Mr A. Venu Prasad, visiting several parts of the city to check
violation of the model code of conduct on Sunday, defiance continues
unabated.
Bunting and a hording of the
Congress tied to electric and telecom poles near the office of the
District Electoral Officer in Jalandhar on Monday. — A Tribune
photograph
Realtors
vanish too
Ludhiana, January 22
Political uncertainty has dampened the spirits of realtors and
investors in the state. The latter are keeping their fingers crossed
in the anticipation that the new regime, whether Congress or the
Akalis, will give a boost to real estate.
Chamkaur
Sahib most sensitive
Ropar, January 22
Out of the three Assembly constituencies, Chamkaur Sahib was today
declared the most sensitive in the district. Out of 116 polling
stations in Chamkaur Sahib, 44 were declared sensitive and hyper
sensitive.
First
nomination from Banur filed
Dera Bassi, January 22
Mr Jasbir Singh Punsar, BSP candidate from Banur Assembly segment,
today became the first candidate to file the nomination papers here.
POLL
BYTES
It’s
a flag war in Kanuwan
Kanuwan
(Gurdaspur), January 21
The rural constituency of Kanuwan is witnessing a tough contest
between Congress minister Pratap Singh Bajwa and former SAD minister
Sewa Singh Sekhwan. A tour of the constituency revealed that voters
here are clearly divided and a flag war is being waged by supporters
of the two parties.
|
|
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Flags of
political parties flutter atop roofs in the Kanuwan
constituency. — Photos by Jangi
|
Rebels
adamant; issue ultimatum
Gurdaspur
January 21
Dissident leaders in the Narot constituency today organised a meeting
of their supporters and gave two-day ultimatum to the party. The
workers were peeved at the allotment of the party ticket to sitting
MLA Rumal Chand.
Rajpura:
Stakes high, 55 pc polling booths sensitive
Rajpura, January 21
With stakes high in the Rajpura Assembly constituency, the
administration is gearing up to ensure a free and fair poll. In fact,
the conduct of a free and fair poll for the constituency is going to
be a tough task for the authorities concerned, with 78 of the 142
polling booths being declared sensitive.
Gill
on post till polling
Chandigarh, January 21
The new Director-General of Punjab Police, Mr R.S. Gill, will hold the
post till the completion of the election process in Punjab. Once the
process is completed by March 3, the new government will be at liberty
to appoint a new officer.
SAD
wants action against PR officials
Chandigarh, January 21
The Shiromani Akali Dal today objected to the alleged use of songs and
advertisements prepared by the Public Relations Department of the
Punjab Government for the election campaign of the Congress.
shadow
boxing
Banur:
It’s Kanwaljit versus Venod Sharma
Chandigarh January 21
It is going to be Capt Kanwaljit Singh versus former Haryana
Power Minister Venod Sharma in the Banur Assembly segment.
Though Mr Rakesh Sharma, son of former Punjab Finance Minister
Hans Raj Sharma, is the official candidate from Banur, the
prestige of Mr Venod Sharma is at stake in the segment, which
was once represented by him in the early eighties.
Capt Kanwaljit Singh |
|
|
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angry
ones
Bitter
Lubanas may dump Congress
Jalandhar, January 21
The Congress has ‘ignored' Hindus and Lubanas while allocating
tickets for the forthcoming Assembly elections, say representatives of
the two communities. The president of the Bharatiya Dharam Raksha
Samiti, Mr Manoj Kumar Nanha, said the Congress had fielded 18 Hindu
candidates as compared to 28 last time.
DISTRICT REPORT
Cong
betting on women
Sangrur, January 21
In the seven Assembly constituencies of this district, the Congress
has given the lion’s share to women by allotting them four tickets.
However, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has not nominated even a single
woman candidate in the district.
Bhattal
leads liability list
Bathinda, January 21
The Department of General Administration has shot off a missive to all
Deputy Commissioners along with a list of ministers and former
ministers having liabilities towards the Punjab Government with
respect to house building advance and car advance to check information
to be furnished by them while seeking election to the Assembly next
month.
| VP,
Babbar stars of Shambhu rally |
Ludhiana,
January 21
Despite star campaigners like Bollywood actor Raj Babbar and
former Prime Minister V.P. Singh coming to address the rally
of Mr Shambhu Kumar Singh, a Jan Morcha nominee from for
Ludhiana Rural seat, here today, the entire show remained a
damp squib.
(From left) Mr Raj Babbar, Mr Shambhu Singh and Mr V.P. Singh
at an election rally of the Jan Morcha in Ludhiana on Sunday.
— A Tribune photograph |
 |
Rai
Sikh Maha Panchayat decides to oppose Cong
Ferozepore, January 21
The Rai Sikh community which is a large vote bank in this border area,
organised “Maha Panchayat” at Megha Rai Utar village here today at
which it decided that the community would oppose Congress candidates
in various Assembly constituencies of this district.
INLD
to campaign for SAD-BJP candidates
Chandigarh, January 21
Indian National Lok Dal leaders
and workers today went to Punjab to campaign for SAD-BJP combine
candidates for the Assembly elections following a decision taken at a
joint meeting of the state executive and the Political Affairs
Committee of the party held under the chairmanship of the President,
Mr Om Parkash Chautala, here today.
24
former govt employees in fray
Chandigarh, January 21
More than 24 former government employees are in Punjab’s poll fray
this time - among then are doctors, teachers and PCS, IAS and IPS
officers. There are a few retired Armymen too.
| Uma
Bharti banking on hung House |
Ludhiana,
January 21
Firing a salvo at the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress,
the fire-brand leader of the Bhartiya Janshakti Party, Ms Uma
Bharti, today said both these parties had made the state ‘ a
den of corruption’ and a hung Assembly alone could rescue
the state. She was addressing a meeting of party workers at a
local school here today. |
 |
| Ms
Uma Bharti, addresses an election rally in Ludhiana on Sunday.
— A Tribune photograph |
Sidhu
extends olive branch
Kharar, January 21
The Congress candidate from Kharar, Mr Balbir Sidhu, yesterday stated
that he would go to the houses of all Congress leaders who were not
happy with his candidature to pacify them.
Delay:
More join ticket race
Amritsar, January 21
The BJP's failure to announce its candidate from the Amritsar North
Assembly has resulted in more aspirants joining the ticket race.
Supporters of Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, a former Punjab minister, have
sent telegrams to the party high command to field him from the
constituency.
PPCC
secy Mann resigns
Patiala, January 21
Mr Harinder Pal Singh Mann, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee
secretary, today resigned from his post and from the primary
membership of the Congress. He alleged that the party had been
favouring those candidates who had recently shifted loyalties from the
SAD while true Congressmen who had stood by the party through thick
and thin were being ignored.
Kang
welcomes new entrants
Chandigarh, January 21
Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Congress candidate from Morinda, today claimed
that at least 12 Akali and Bahujan Samaj Party activists along with
their supporters joined the Congress under his leadership at Teur
village.
Panthic
issues take backseat
Gurdaspur, January 21
Panthic issues like demanding votes in the name of the community and
blaming the Congress for Operation Bluestar and the 1984 riots that
were the main poll plank of the SAD in earlier elections do not figure
in the election campaign of the party in this district.
Saini
opens election office
Zirakpur, January 21
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) candidate from the Banur Assembly
segment, Mr Avtar Singh Saini, today intensified his election campaign
with the opening of his election office here today.
POLL
BYTES
Virk
should be sacked, says SAD
Chandigarh, January 20
The Shiromani Akali Dal today
welcomed the Election Commission's decision to transfer Punjab's
Director-General of Police, Mr S.S. Virk, saying the party stand
demanding his removal had been vindicated. The SAD demanded Mr Virk's
sack and prosecution, saying that the highest electoral authority in
the country had found him guilty of “corrupt practices and misuse of
office.”
Won’t
allow things to get dirty: CEO
Chandigarh, January 20
  The
Chief Electoral Officer, Punj- ab, Mr Sundram Krishna, today asserted
that the poll officers were keeping a close watch on the ongoing
election campaign for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections and no
political party would be allowed to turn the campaign dirty.
EC
okays four Information Commissioners
Chandigarh, January 20
Decks have been cleared for four
Information Commissioners, who were appointed last month by the Punjab
Government, for assuming the charge of the office. Informed sources
today said the Election Commission had informed the State Government
that it had no objection on the issue.
Parties
playing politics with ‘siropa’
Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 20
Peeved over the misuse of the practice of presenting
‘siropa’ (religious robe of honour) by leaders of almost all
political parties of the state, office-bearers of local Sikh
organisations have urged the chiefs of the SGPC and Akal Takht to
impose restrictions so that the sanctity of the practice was
maintained.
Youth queue up to
receive siropas at a political function in Mandi Ahmedgarh on
Thursday. — Photo by writer
Captain
owns just Rs 15,000
Patiala, January 20
In an affidavit submitted to the
Returning Officer, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today
declared that he possessed Rs 15,000 in cash, besides Rs 20,000 as
‘karta” of Hindu undivided family.
Nominations:
Number rises to 70
Chandigarh, January 20
As many as 41 candidates filed their nominations today. With
this, a total of 70 candidates have filed their papers.
POLL CHASE
His claim: His father’s Bunny
 
Mohali, January 20
For someone who is facing his
first election, Mr Jasjit Singh Bunny is a confident campaigner.
Mr Jasjit Singh Bunny of the
SAD addresses an election meeting in his constituency of Kharar. —
Tribune photos by Vicky Gharu
Mrs
Dullo silenced
Chandigarh, January 20
 From
an excited contender for re-election to a silenced wife, Harbans Kaur
Dullo has resigned to her fate, at least for the moment. Till a
fortnight ago, she was a firebrand MLA, confident of taking on her
husband and Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullo in the
race for ticket. “If he has staked a claim to the ticket, let us see
who wins it,” she had said, adding that in no circumstances would
she allow Mr Dullo to oust her from Khanna.
 LEGAL
MERRY-GO-ROUND
Battle
from streets to courts, and back
Chandigarh, January 20
With elections round the corner,
the battle of wits between Capt Amarinder Singh and Mr Parkash Singh
Badal has spilled over from courtrooms to the streets. The bete
noires, who have been fighting a legal battle over defamatory
advertisements by the Congress against the Shiromani Akali Dal in the
2002 elections, are at it again - taking the people for a ride.
Ropar
bridge may turn out to be main poll issue
Ropar, January 20
 Hundreds
of commuters are helpless and put their lives to risk while passing
through the 125-year-old bridge over the Sirhind canal, which is the
main link of Ropar city with National Highway-21 every day here. Over
50,000 people in the city, which falls in Anandpur Sahib Assembly
constituency, travel on the bridge daily.
The bridge over the Sirhind canal
is the main cause for concern for residents of Ropar. — Tribune
photo by Pradeep Tewari
No
development work in Kharar: Kanwaljit
Mohali, January 20
A former Finance Minister, Capt
Kanwaljit Singh, has said the Kharar constituency will be developed
like Banur after the formation of the SAD-BJP combine government in
the state.
Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan waves to the crowd
during an election rally in Patiala on Saturday. — A Tribune
photograph |
SAD’s
Kang says cops coercing voters
Amritsar, January 20
Fearing threat to the life Mr
Manjinder Singh Kang, former Chairman of the Forest Corporation and
SAD candidate from Beas has demanded paramilitary forces for election
in the Beas Assembly constituency.
Parallel
economy
PR agencies do it all for
candidates
Ludhiana, January 20
Candidates doling out promises is
a routine during any elections. One segment that offers promises to
candidates itself is public relations agencies that are all geared up
to win the race of bagging as many accounts as they can. The agencies
have begun contacting contestants for various seats, directly as well
as through references.
LS
ticket: Dullo bats for Majha
Chandigarh, January 20
If Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo,
president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), has his
way, then the Amritsar Lok Sabha ticket should go to a ‘Majhail.’
Preneet
Kaur harps on development
Rajpura, January 20
Assembly segments bordering
Chandigarh are finally warming up to the campaigning for the Punjab
elections. With the last date for the filing of nominations, January
25, drawing close, the electioneering is picking up in the areas.
Hoshiarpur:
Cracks appear in BJP
Hoshiarpur, January 20
While the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) has announced its candidates for a majority of the
constituencies it is contesting from, the unusual delay in naming the
Hoshiarpur candidate has given credence to reports of severe
factionalism in the party here.
BSP
goes upper caste
Jalandhar, January 20
Once known for openly speaking
against upper castes at its rallies, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has
allocated over one-third tickets to persons belonging to these castes
for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Bhattal
confidant Dirba joins SAD
Sangrur, January 20
The Congress today suffered a
major setback in the Dirba Assembly constituency when Mr Gurcharan
Singh Dirba, a close confidant of Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Deputy
Chief Minister, Punjab, and two-time Congress MLA from Dirba, joined
the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the presence of Mr Sukhdev Singh
Dhindsa, secretary-general of the party, and Mr Baldev Singh Mann, SAD
candidate from the seat, at Dirba village, about 25 km from here.
Independent
candidate wants to make youth drug-free
Mohali, January 20
Ashwani Kumar, an independent
candidate from Kharar, was weighed in ladoos by shop owners in the
Sohana market, here today. The 26-year-old candidate is a resident of
village Sambhalki and is standing for elections for the first time.
Singla
makes a strong case
New Delhi, January 20
The battle for the Amritsar Lok
Sabha seat is hotting up. With former Lok Sabha MP Jagmeet Singh Brar
throwing his hat in the race, his bete noire Punjab Finance Minister
Surinder Singla has intensified his campaign for this prestigious
seat.
Deepa’s
ultimatum to Cong
Sangrur, January 20
An unsuccessful aspirant for the
Congress ticket from Sunam, Mr Rajinder Deepa, today announced that he
would contest the Assembly elections from the seat as an Independent
if the party failed to change the candidate within two days. Mr Aman
Arora, younger brother of Mr Deepa's wife, Sonia Deepa Arora, is the
party candidate for the seat.
Samra’s
overseas fans here
Nakodar, January 20
The NRIs settled in the UK,
Canada, the USA and other countries are using the telephone to garner
support for Congress candidates here. Some are here campaigning for
the candidates.
POLL BYTES
‘Ravana’
meets ‘Rama’ again
PATHANKOT: Mr
Ashok Sharma, sitting Congress MLA from Pathankot, and his arch rival
Master Mohan Lal of the Bharatiya Janata Party have always been in
opposite roles.
One
more files nomination
Mohali, January 20
Ms Ishwar Kaur, a resident of
Phase IX here, filed her nomination papers as an independent candidate
for the Punjab Assembly elections from the Kharar constituency today.
She had earlier contested the municipal elections in July last year
but had lost.
Finally,
CM kickstarts campaign
 Harps on development; Sonia, PM to canvass
Patiala, January 19
The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, finally kickstarted his
campaign today by holding a series of meetings with party workers and
others, including members of the district Bar where he sought votes in
the name of economic development initiated by the Congress government
in the past five years.
A WORD OF CAUTION: The Chief
Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, with his wife and MP, Ms Perneet
Singh, in Patiala on Friday. — A Tribune photograph
SAD to ask
EC to look into ticket ‘sale’ by Cong
Chandigarh, January 19
Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal said
here today that charges about the ‘sale’ of Congress tickets under
the influence of the land and liquor mafia had vindicated the SAD
stance that Chief Minster Capt Amarinder Singh had led the most
corrupt government in the history of Independent India.
22 more
file nominations
Chandigarh, January 18
As many as 22 candidates today filed their nominations for the coming
Punjab Assembly elections. With this, the total number of candidates
who have filed their nomination in the first two days has gone up to
28.
Tom-Tom
IT
success: Big talk, little outcome
Chandigarh, January 19
Information Technology (IT) remained Punjab Government’s buzzword in
the past five years and is being projected as one of the major
achievements of the Capt Amarinder Singh government. But it seems
Punjab surpassed neighbouring states in rhetoric alone whereas actual
performance as compared to Chandigarh remained low.
| Cong riddled
with dissent
|
 "I
had put up my point of view about all prospective candidates
before the high command. Background of all main aspirants,
including charges of corruption, if there were any against a
particular aspirant, were explained to the top leadership. The
final decision to select candidates for all constituencies was
taken by the high command.” |
Cong
candidate promises development
Rajpura, January 19
Congress candidate from Ghanaur constituency, Mr Jasjit Singh
Randhawa, today intensified his election campaign by opening election
offices at Bahadurgarh and Shambu.
|
POLL BURDEN
Workers unload
publicity material at the Congress Bhavan, Sector 15,
Chandigarh, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Malkit Singh
|
One
against the other in Cong
Mohali, January 19
Mrs Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, OSD to the Punjab Chief Minister, today
revolted against Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu, president of the Mohali
district unit of the Congress, who has been given the party ticket to
contest the Punjab Assembly elections from the Kharar constituency.
Atwal
campaigns on foot
Phillaur, January 19
Local Congress MLA Gurbinder Singh Atwal visited his constituency on
foot after the announcement of his candidature from the constituency.
Mr Atwal took blessings from old women of the area, who were waiting
for him outside the Sant Sadhu Ram temple.
BJP names
six more
Chandigarh, January 19
The Bharatiya Janata Party tonight announced six more candidates for
the Assembly elections in the state. With this, the party has
announced candidates for 21 seats. Candidates for two other
constituencies are still to be named.
Chhina,
Chawla get tickets
Amritsar, January 19
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today fielded a Sikh candidate, Mr
Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, secretary, governing body of Khalsa
College, who had recently joined the party, from the Amritsar West
constituency.
BJSP
candidate claims support of Cong, BSP leader
Mohali, January 19
Mr Anil Kumar, who is contesting the Punjab Assembly elections as a
candidate of the Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party (BJSP), claimed here today
that a Congress leader and her supporters had joined his party.
Two more
file papers
Patiala, January 19
Two more candidates filed their nominations for the Punjab Assembly
elections, here today.
Terror
attack apprehended
Chandigarh, January 19
The Special Protection Group (SPG), which has the task of protecting
under-threat VIPs, including many senior politicians, today told the
Election Commission officers as well as senior Punjab Government
officers involved in the process of holding of coming Vidhan Sabha
elections that there are too many VIPs who needed SPG cover in Punjab.
Price
rise, jobs main issues
Chandigarh, January 19
Spiralling prices of essential commodities, poor education and health
services, corruption in government offices, police excesses,
unemployment and rural indebtedness are among the issues that the
ruling Congress will have to face in the run up to Assembly elections
in Punjab.
Ludhiana:
Pending projects weigh on voters’ mind
Ludhiana, January 19
It could have been bridges to voters’ hearts in Ludhiana. But,
several incomplete flyovers, considered a must for smooth traffic flow
in any densely populated city, would weigh on the minds of the voters.
poll
bounty
Encroachers have a field day
Fazilka, January 19
As electioneering gains momentum here, members of the ruling party
have devised a novel way to woo the electorate. The local Municipal
Council has reportedly allowed around 50 families to encroach upon a
piece of prime municipal land, allegedly at the behest of the ruling
party.
Encroachments coming up on
Senia Road in Fazilka. The land is governed by the Municipal Council.
Ticket in kitty, they now flock to astrologers
Chandigarh, January 19
How can elections in India ever take off without the intervention of
omnipresent soothsayers who claim to know it all? Punjab is no
different. Despite their names having been cleared by the party high
command, many candidates at the hustings for the 117 Assembly segments
are doing the rounds of astrologers, vastu shastra experts, babas and
oracles before launching their election campaign.
A big Cong
hand for four Big Bs
Chandigarh, January 18
In Congress, it is all within the families of top few leaders. The two
lists released by the party since yesterday are full of brothers,
sisters, spouses and sons of the Bhattals, Bajwas, Beants and the
Brars.
Jittery
Cong men to meet at palace
Efforts to blunt Kohli
edge
Patiala, January 18
The local Congress leadership seems to be suffering from election eve
blues. Having found itself in a jittery position following the early
campaign launched by the SAD candidate, Mr Surjit Singh Kohli, the
Congress, under instructions of the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt
Amarinder Singh, and the Patiala Member of Parliament, Mrs Preneet
Kaur, has called a meeting of its cadres at the New Moti Bagh palace
residence of the Chief Minister here on January 21.
Ballot
misuse: EC satisfied with govt reply
New Delhi, January 18
The Election Commission has expressed its satisfaction with the
explanation by the officials concerned of the Punjab Government
regarding a complaint apprehending the “misuse/manipulation” of
postal ballots meant for the Punjab Police.
Virk
issue: EC not satisfied with reply
Chandigarh, January 18
The Election Commission is not happy with the “sketchy report”
sent by the Punjab Government regarding Director-General of Police,
Punjab, S.S. Virk and his family getting concessions for setting up a
convention centre near Chandigarh.
Women
MLAs: Best figure very slim 9
Chandigarh, January 18
Talk of 33 per cent reservation for women in the legislature
notwithstanding, the number of woman MLAs in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha
since 1960 has never entered the double figure.
DISTRICT REPORT
Sultanpur,
Bholath SAD citadels
Kapurthala, January 18
The Bholath and Sultanpur Lodhi constituencies of Kapurthala district
are considered citadels of the SAD as it has won five of the last six
Assembly elections since 1977 on both seats. The Congress could win on
these seats only in 1992 when the SAD had boycotted the elections.
Angry
ones
Cong
faces rebel fury
Rebels
rally behind Pinki
Ferozepore, January 18
Voices of dissent have started emanating in this border
district after denial of ticket to Mr Parminder Singh
“Pinky”, general secretary of the PPCC. He was an aspirant
for Congress ticket from the Ferozepore City Assembly
constituency. |
Arvind
Khanna men sulking
Sangrur, January 18
Cracks in the Congress
came to the fore here today as almost all loyalists of Mr
Arvind Khanna, MLA from Sangrur, who has been denied the party
ticket from Sangrur this time, kept themselves away from the
venue where the Congress candidate from Sangrur, Mr Surinder
Pal Singh Sibia, alias Pammi Sibia, was received on his return
from Delhi. |
Slogans
raised against Dullo
Abohar, January 18
Hundreds of Congress
workers, including sarpanches and members of gram panchayats,
today gave an ultimatum to the party high command to change
the candidate from the Balluana (reserved) constituency by
January 22 failing which they would field an Independent. |
Don’t
like them? Simply reject
Ludhiana January 18
For the first time in the electoral history of India, voters in Punjab
will have the option to reject candidates if they so desire. According
to election officials, the Election Commission of India has introduced
a provision wherein the voters can reject all candidates. This will
help gauge the mood of the voter. — Alok Kumar, scholar It will be
of no help. — Mahesh Inder Singh
Rumblings
in Majha too
Amritsar, January 18
The Chairman of the Improvement Trust, Tarn Taran, Prof Gurvinder
Singh Mammanke, has raised a banner of revolt against the official
nominee , Mr Manjit Singh Ghasitpura.
Patch-up
Badal talks panel again
Hoshiarpur, January 18
Mr Parkash Singh Badal, SAD chief, today said that if voted to power,
his government would constitute a separate commission on unemployment.
ME
AND MYSELF
Ex-serviceman
fired up
Chandigarh, January 18
Mr Tirlochan Singh Mann, a 55-year-old resident of Balongi village, is
standing as an Independent from the Kharar constituency. An
ex-serviceman, Mr Mann joined the Punjab Police later and retired as
Assistant Sub-Inspector.
Mr Tirlochan Singh (garlanded) and his supporters in Kharar on
Thursday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu
For rural
women, the husband decides
Chamkaur Sahib, January 18
Women in many villages of this reserved constituency have to cast vote
in favour of a particular candidate chosen by their husbands in
consultation with Panchayat. There are 56,069 women voters in this
constituency out of a total of 1.18 lakh voters.
Bhinder
faces protege
Gurdaspur, January 18
The Gurdaspur Assembly constituency has a new Congress candidate. Mr
P.S. Bhinder, a former DGP and husband of the late Sukhbans Kaur
Bhinder, a former Member of Parliament, has been nominated as the
Congress candidate from the seat.
Hangers-on
back home to celebrate
Gurdaspur January 18
It was celebration time for those who have got the party ticket. Most
Congress nominees who had been camping in Delhi for the past two weeks
to ensure nominations today returned to their constituencies.
Parminder
files papers from Kharar
Mohali, January 18
As the work of issuing notification commenced, only one candidate from
Kharar constituency filed his nomination papers for the Punjab
Assembly elections at the Municipal Bhawan, here today.
POLL BYTES
Day
1: Six file nomination papers
Chandigarh: The process of filing of nominations started in
Punjab today with six candidates submitting their papers. Two
nominations were filed from the Patiala constituency and one
each from Assembly segments in Nawashahr, SAS Nagar,
Ferozepore and Muktsar districts. No prominent candidate
submitted papers. |
Holy Campaign
|
2 file
papers
Patiala, January 18
The BSP nominee for the Patiala Assembly segment, Mr Paramjit Singh,
today filed his nomination papers along with an Independent candidate,
Mr Vijay Kumar.
Man
booked under NDPS Act launches party
Amritsar, January 18
Mr Jagtar Boxer, who was recently acquitted by the court, has decided
to launch a drive against the drug abuse by launching a party-Naujwan
Shakti Dal. He is the president of the party.
For Cong, old
is gold
Bir Devinder, Singla kept in
suspense
Chandigarh, January 17
Reposing faith in the old guard,
the All-India Congress Committee named a few new faces and replaced
some old warhorses with their spouses or siblings in a list of 98
candidates released tonight.
Notification on poll today
Chandigarh, January 17
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, will issue a notification
tomorrow to conduct the elections in the state on February 13. This
will set the poll process rolling for the 117 assembly constituencies
and the Amritsar Parliamentary seat.
Feud
delays decision on 19 seats
Chandigarh,
January 17
Tickets to several Congress heavyweights have been kept pending by the
party high command owing to an intense tug-of-war among various
factions within the party.
Badal to
file papers on Jan 22
Chandigarh,
January 17
The president of The Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will
file his nomination papers on January 22. His nephew and member of the
political affairs committee Manpreet Singh Badal will also file his
papers on the same date at Gidderbaha.
Parties
ignore women
Chandigarh, January 17
It seems the political parties dominated by men care two hoots for
women. The Left parties, the CPI and the CPM, have announced a list of
45 candidates. However, not a single women figure on the list.
 Migrant
muscle in Amritsar
Migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are considered an important vote
bank in the border district of Amritsar. Some villages in Amritsar
have entire panchayats comprising Bihari migrants. They have made
Punjab their 'first home'. The sarpanches of Karnala, Dayalpur ,
Patalpuri, Kharaswala and Galowali are of Bihari origin. They speak
chaste Punjabi and their children can write in the Gurmukhi script.
Sarna
brothers may dent urban Sikh votes
Chandigarh, January 17
“Our victory in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC)
elections is only a trailer of what is going to come in the ensuing
Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections,” says Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna,
President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi).
Businessmen
go underground
Ludhiana, January 17
Call any prominent businessman or an industrialist, chances are his
cell would be switched off or he would be out of station. All due to
pressure from political parties and candidates for donations.
Potential financiers have started doing the vanishing act, lest they
are made to part with their money.
LJP to contest 70 seats
Bathinda, January 17
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Ramvilas Paswan
today announced that his party would contest the Assembly elections in
the state from 70 constituencies.
Lok Janshakti Party president
Ramvilas Paswan at a party rally in Rama Mandi on Wednesday. —
Tribune photo by Kulbir Beera
Projects: Badal for panel on land rates
Chamkaur Sahib, January 17
The SAD chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today launched the campaign for
SAD candidate Satwant Kaur Sandhu here. Mr Badal chose to address
small gatherings instead of big rallies in this reserved constituency,
which is considered an Akali stronghold. Ms Satwant Kaur has won the
last two elections from this Assembly constituency.
Rebel
Padiala to back Jasjit
Chamkaur Sahib, January 17
In a big relief to SAD candidate from the Kharar constituency, Mr
Jasjit Singh, son of general secretary of the SAD Kanwaljit Singh,
Rajbir Singh Padiala, a SAD rebel, today decided to support Jasjit.
Earlier, Mr Padiala had decided to contest the elections as
Independent having been denied ticket from Kharar.
BJP
legislator garners support for ticket
Hoshiarpur, January 17
Though the BJP has yet to finalise its candidate for the Hoshiarpur
seat, thousands of supporters of Mr Tikshan Sud, BJP MLA, assembled at
his residence here today to assure him of their support. They raised
slogans in his favour.
Ex-services
league not to support any party
Patiala, January 17
The Indian Ex-services League, Punjab and Chandigarh, headed by Lt-Col
Chanan Singh (retd), has decided in principle to support individual
candidates and not any political party during the Assembly elections
in Punjab unlike in the past.
 GREENHORN
He
banks on SAD, Cong dissension
Mr Anil Kumar of Sector 68, Mohali, is the Bharatiya Jan Shakti
Party’s candidate for the Kharar constituency. Standing for
elections for the first time, he campaigned for “Uma didi’ in
Madhya Pradesh and is the president of the district unit of the party.
A builder by profession, 26-year-old Anil is the youngest candidate
from an important constituency currently represented by senior
Congress leader Bir Devinder Singh in the Vidhan Sabha.
The Bharatiya Jan Shakti
candidate from Kharar, Mr Anil Kumar, seeks votes in Mohali on
Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu
Panchayat
secy manhandled
Mohali, January 17
The police has booked a resident of Badali village on a charge of
manhandling a panchayat secretary working as a booth-level officer in
connection with the Assembly elections at Badali village.
48 pc
booths in Kharar declared sensitive
Mohali, January 17
Despite there being by and large peaceful polling in the 2002 Assembly
and the last Lok Sabha elections in the Kharar Assembly constituency,
the police this time seems to have adopted an overcautious approach to
the February 13 poll and declared around 48 per cent of the total
number of booths as “sensitive” and 8 per cent as “very
sensitive.”
Control
room for poll set up
Mohali, January 17
In accordance with the directions of the Election Commission,
the Mohali district administration has set up control rooms in all
three subdivisions in connection with the Assembly elections being
held next month.
It’s poll shine for them
Ludhiana, January 17
For them, election time is an opportunity to make a quick buck. Those
dealing in publicity material like banners, bunting, badges, stickers,
balloons and posters for candidates are working overtime these days.
As the election scene hots up in the state, hundreds of outlets
providing publicity-related material have come up here.
Publicity material being
readied at Ludhiana. — Photo by Inderjit Verma
Sushma wants
three tickets for women
Chandigarh,
January 16
The top BJP leadership is considering tickets to three women aspirants
on the insistence of senior leader Sushma Swaraj. She has told the
party high command that it should nominate at least three women
candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections.
Badals
cajole rebels
Ballian mellows, Pakhoke too
Tarn Taran, January 16
The Shiromani Akali Dal supremo,
Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today visited the residence of Mr Alwinderpal
Singh Pakhoke, a former working president of the Shiromani Gurdwara
Parbandhak Committee, in an effort to stop him from contesting as a
rebel against the official nominee, Mr Harmit Singh Sandhu.
At last,
Ballian mellows
Sangrur,
January 16
Mr Ranjit Singh Ballian, a former minister in the SAD-BJP government
who has been denied the SAD ticket from Sangrur this time again, today
decided not to contest as a rebel from Sangrur.
Bhajan’s
no disappoints Cong men
Abohar, January 16
Congress workers in the Balluana Reserve constituency are dismayed
over the decision by the Bhajan Lal family not to campaign in favour
of party candidates in Punjab.
Dharam,
Hema to pitch in for BJP
Chandigarh, January 16
The “muscleman” of the Hindi cinema Dharmendra, and the “dream
girl” of yesteryear, Hema Malini, will be among several star
campaigners and top leaders of the BJP, who will be wooing voters in
Punjab.
EC allows
teachers to join service
Chandigarh, January 16
The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Sundaram Krishna, has allowed hundreds
of teachers, appointed before December 29 when the Model Code of
Conduct was enforced, to join service.
|
poll
chase
Personal
touch — Jr Mann’s style
|
|
Fatehgarh
Sahib, January 16
Mr Emman Singh Mann, SAD (Amritsar) candidate from the Sirhind
Assembly constituency, has launched his election campaign, but
in a different style. A graduate from an American university,
Mr Mann goes to the people alone early in the morning and
attends small corner meetings.
SAD (A) candidate Emman
Mann holds a corner meeting with voters of his constituency.
— A Tribune photograph
|
|
DSGMC FALLOUT
Bhai
Ranjit Singh not to campaign
Amritsar, January 16
Virtually stung by the drubbing in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara
Management Committee elections, Bhai Ranjit Singh, former Jathedar
of the Akal Takht, has decided not to campaign in the Punjab
Assembly elections and the byelection to the Amritsar Lok Sabha
seat.
|
The
twice cursed
Thousands of border farmers are facing starvation. The
compensation of Rs 2,500 per acre given to them by the
Central Government in 1998 has been stopped. There are no
takers for such land while land prices elsewhere in the
state have skyrocketed. They want their voice heard in the
cacophony of electioneering, say Varinder
Walia and Gurbax Puri
|
|
Parties get the dollar boost
Jalandhar, January 16
This winter is witnessing the maximum homecoming of NRIs to their
native villages in Punjab. They are back not just to meet their kin,
take care of their land or marry off their children, but to take
part in the election process by donating funds to political parties
and canvassing.
Weary
voters say ‘yes’ to all
Gurdaspur, January 16
Political parties are raising the issues of development and job
promises and levelling charges of corruption against each other as
their main poll planks.
Poll
khol
Babus
vanish
Chandigarh, January 16
Even as the state gears up for the elections, senior bureaucrats in
Punjab have decided to take it easy and wait for the results to pour
in. What otherwise can explain the scant presence of babus in their
offices located in the Punjab Civil Secretariat.
All they want — A bridge over the river
Muthianwala (Tarn Taran), January 15
In the state revenue record, this non-descript village on the banks of the Sutlej falls in the newly created district of Tarn Taran. However, for the Election Commission, the village is part of the Ferozepore Assembly constituency. For any administrative work, the residents of the village, located near Pakistan border, go to Tarn Taran while they have to cross the river by boat to vote, risking their lives.
|
In the absence of a bridge, residents of Muthianwala are forced to use the ferry to
reach the mainland. — A Tribune photograph
|
Nirmal, Makhan to get tickets: CM
Chandigarh, January 15
Names of almost all Punjab ministers have been recommended by the Congress screening committee for renomination as party candidates for the Assembly elections in the state.
 Tailor-made candidate
Ludhiana, January 15
White is the colour of the election season. Politicians of all parties have switched over to white. And those with sound business sense are making hay while the sun shines - tailoring white
kurtas
and
pyjamas
for politicians and their supporters. Harvinder 'Happy' has been doing just
this for so many elections. Come elections, and he gets down to business.
Tailoring white kurtas for the politicians to give them that immaculate
white appearance.
 Tainted: United colours of Congress, SAD
Jalandhar, Januar |
