Gul, Jassi among 40 AAP campaigners

Chandigarh: Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s nephew Abhay Singh Sandhu, balladeer Bant Singh, singers Jassi Jasraj and Sukhwinder Sukhi, and Bains brothers would be the star campaigners for the Aam Aadmi Party. As per a list of 40 star campaigners approved by the Election Commission on Monday, the campaigners include Punjab and Delhi leaders only. The Delhi leaders include Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and other ministers and MLAs. There was speculation that AAP may rope in film or TV stars. But only model-turned-actor Gul Panag fit the bill. The list also includes AAP's Delhi MLA Somnath Bharti, facing a domestic violence case. Journalists Kanwar Sandhu and Chander Suta Dogra are also on the list. TNS

Bant’s assailant turns Independent 

Mansa: Navdeep Singh, a convict in the case of a murderous attack on Dalit leader Bant Singh Jhabbar, has decided to fight the elections as an Independent. He had been recently expelled by AAP a day after he was inducted along with Bant Singh. Navdeep, state general secretary of the Jat Mahasabha and the son of the Jhabbar village sarpanch, was a Congress supporter before he joined AAP. He has also filed a petition in the High Court, seeking permission to contest the elections. He held a meeting with his supporters at Aklia village on Monday. “AAP inducted me after taking Bant's consent, but later expelled me without any reason,” he alleged. Bharat Khanna

EC wants Kejri’s barbs out of AAP film 

Chandigarh: Chopping at least 11 minutes of the 62-minute-long film produced by AAP, the Election Commission has told the party to remove the parts where party convener Arvind Kejriwal targets top Akali leaders Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia. The state-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC), which has given approval to AAP to telecast the film both online and in gatherings, also told the party to remove some of the scenes referring to the desecrations incidents that occurred in the state in 2015. TNS

Health Director under EC lens 

Chandigarh: Congress Mohali candidate Balbir Sindh Sidhu has complained to the Election Commission, alleging that Dr HS Bali Director, Health Services, is forcing health employees to support SAD-BJP candidates. In his complaint, Sidhu alleged Dr Bali was given extension beyond the age of 60 because of his “connections” with politicians. Now, “he is putting all-out efforts to mount pressure on the staff working in the Health Department to vote for Akali-BJP candidates. This is a violation of the model code of conduct”, the Congress nominee claimed. Dr Bali said he had not asked any employee to vote for any political party. TNS