M A I N   N E W S

Sukhbir to contest from Sirhind?
Ajay Banerjee/Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 10
In what could add a new twist to the political scenario in Punjab, there are under currents within the Shiromani Akali Dal that Sukhbir Badal is all set to contest an election from an Assembly constituency and seek a formal entry to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Though no time frame has been decided when he should contest, political observers said: “It could be any time”.

An Assembly seat near Chandigarh, most likely, Sirhind, will be vacated for Sukhbir. His close ally, Didar Singh Bhatti, who is the sitting MLA from Sirhind, will be given a plum elevation for the sacrifice, added a source. Bhatti, speaking over the phone to The Tribune, today denied that a hint had been given to vacate his seat, but added: “Badal Sahib is like my father and Sukhbir is like my brother and I will obey the wish of the party if I am asked to vacate”.

Sources in the Akali Dal said Bhatti had been given the hint that he might be asked to vacate his seat and Sukhbir would decide the timing for his entry into the Vidhan Sabha.

Sukhbir has never contested an Assembly seat. However, in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government at the Centre he remained a minister. Bhatti will be “politically compensated” for the same, sources said.

The reason for launching Sukhbir, a sitting MP from Faridkot, from the Assembly segment of Sirhind has a strong political logic. With this, the Badal family will establish a base away from their traditional pocket borough of Lambi (Parkash Singh Badal) and Gidder Baha (Manpreet Badal), located in south-western Malwa.

Sukhbir’s brothers-in-law, Bikram Singh Majitha and Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, have their own strong base in the Majha region. Both come from established political families. Sirhind area is located close to Chandigarh and Ludhiana is a virgin territory for the Badals, who are Punjab’s oldest surviving political family.

Also, managing a constituency that has a mélange of rural, urban, educated and a prosperous NRI population will be logical for Sukhbir, to present his credentials as the possible future CM of Punjab. Sirhind is no more than 45 km from Chandigarh, hence it will be easy to manage on day-to-day basis for Sukhbir, who has his hands full as the acting president of the SAD besides being the watchful eyes and ears of his father in Chandigarh.

Higher DA for Punjab staff

Chandigarh, April 10
Punjab employees will get 6 per cent more dearness allowance from January 1, 2007, on the pattern of central government employees. The DA has been hiked from 29 to 35 per cent.

Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal said the grant of 6 per cent DA would put an additional liability of Rs 272 crore on the state exchequer for the current financial year. — TNS

Services board dissolved

Chandigarh, April 10
The Punjab government has dissolved the Punjab subordinate services selection board (PSSSB) with immediate effect.

A spokesman of the government said the services of the chairman and the members of the board had been terminated.

The board was headed by Brig C.S. Harika (retd) and had another 10 members. — TNS