Punjab Diary: Joy & sorrow together

Gurdaspur: Renu Kashy, BJP’s candidate from Dinanagar, could not have learnt it in a better way the day her father-in-law and ex-MLA Sita Ram Kashyap passed away on Friday. In the last few weeks there were rumours that she could be the saffron outfit’s nominee from Dinanagar. However, as ill-luck would have it, she got the official confirmation the same day Sita Ram expired. There was gloom all around the house following which she had retreated to her room. Just as she was coming to grip with the reality, she got a phone call from a Delhi-based leader informing her of her candidature. The young lady surely knew how to respond. “The death in my family has come as a catastrophe in my life. Having said that it has also become a catalyst for my direction in my future endeavours in life,” she said.

Shifting loyalties

Amritsar: The 2022 Assembly poll has seen a spike in turncoats. Residents are shocked to learn about leaders shifting loyalties in search of tickets. Prominent leaders who switched over include Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli Majithia, Sarchand Singh, Harjinder Singh Thekedar, Bhagwant Pal Singh Sachar and Ashwani Kumar Navi Bhagat. Lalli Majithia, who moved from the Congress to the AAP, will contest from the Majitha segment. Lalli’s brother, Jagwinder Pal Singh, alias Jagga Majithia (60), has been given Congress ticket. Sarchand Singh, an aide of senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, joined BJP. Harjinder Singh Thekedar, who had won from Amritsar South constituency in 2002, switched over to Punjab Lok Congress. Ashwani Kumar Navi Bhagat, a sitting Congress councillor from ward number 14, which falls in the Amritsar North segment joined the SAD.

Late night surprise

Ferozepur: Late night calls are often annoying, but advocate Rajnish Dahiya’s joy knew no bounds. Dahiya, who was denied ticket from the Ferozepur (Rural) segment, got a surprise call from AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal while he was sleeping. To his utter surprise, Kejriwal told him that he will be an AAP candidate. Following the brief conversation, his nomination letter was released in the night itself. Earlier, AAP had allocated ticket to Ashu Banger, who, switched over to the Congress. The AAP went into the disaster management control and within a few hours named Dahiya as their candidate.

Love for white jeep

Muktsar: A white Wrangler Rubicon jeep seems to have caught the fancy of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. Though he mostly travels in a bulletproof vehicle, yet for the last few months he is canvassing for the party candidates in this jeep. Sources say Sukhbir finds it comfortable to come out from the Jeep’s roof during campaigning. Some others say it can be a lucky charm as well.