Chandigarh, January 22
The sprawling Raj Bhawan lawns were cold and windy today but there were warm vibes everywhere with politicians present in large numbers to watch the taking over of one of their own as Governor of Punjab after a slew of Generals in office. Former Home Minister Shivraj V Patil was sworn in as the 32nd Governor by Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal at a brief ceremony attended by the Chief Ministers of both Punjab and Haryana besides loads of other politicians from both Punjab and Maharashtra.
Congress men seemed to be celebrating a “return” to Raj Bhawan and the immediate change in the atmosphere was there for all to see. Union Minister Ambika Soni’s car came up to the tents erected for the ceremony. Those present included Pradesh Congress president Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Ministers Surinder Singla and Jagmohan Singh Kang, MP Santosh Choudhary and legislators Jassi Khangura, Kewal Dhillon and Rana K P Singh.
Nearly 100 guests from Maharashtra also attended the ceremony and included Shivraj Patil’s son Shailesh Patil, and daughter- in-law, Dr Archana Patil, two legislators, Basavraj Patil and Babasahib Patil, besides a former MP and Congressmen from Latur. Shailesh drove to the swearing-in ceremony in a Rs 1.5 crore wine-coloured Hummer. Personal guests of the Governor seemed ill-prepared for the harsh northern winter with a few of them even wearing half-sleeve shirts.
Shivraj Patil also indicated a change in the working of Raj Bhawan vis-a-vis his predecessor. Talking to a select group of newspersons, the new Governor said, “I will work with you, the government and the people to create a cooperative atmosphere”. He went on to say that he would like to project a positive attitude rather than a negative one. He said this would strengthen not only the institution of Governor but also everyone else.
Politicians, by and large, welcomed the change in guard. Jassi Khangura said democratic traditions would be strengthened with Patil’s takeover, adding he expected a more responsive administration on the law and order front. Punjab CPI general secretary Bhupinder Sambhar said his party hoped Raj Bhawan would be more open and that the state would witness a return to a “democratic culture”. Sambhar said he also hoped “democracy” would return to Chandigarh.
