Quartet’s gambit fails

Gurdaspur: Four Congress men of Gurdaspur — MP Partap Singh Bajwa, MLAs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, and ex-MP Sunil Jakhar — had thrown their hats in the ring in the race for chief ministership. They had earned the epithet of ‘The Three Musketeers’ plus Jakhar. In Alexandre Dumas’s novel, there was an element of intrigue. Likewise, here too each one tried to outdo the other by deft political manoeuvring. In the novel, gallant swordsmen fought for justice. Here, they all fought for the only prize that was up for grabs — chief ministership — but lost!

Disappearing act

Abohar: Hours before CM Capt Amarinder Singh decided to quit, billboards carrying his pictures disappeared abruptly from crossings and highways here. About two dozen boards were affixed over the past few weeks highlighting his government’s achievements. Interestingly, similar billboards were affixed in Fazilka, but none in Jalalabad, represented by SAD chief Sukhbir Badal in the past. Earlier, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s supporters had affixed billboards across Fazilka district when he was elevated as the PCC chief. The fact about removal of billboards came to the fore only after the news of resignation broke. Who was behind the move could not be ascertained.