B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Confusion over Badal’s constituency cleared
Bathinda, December 23
The confusion over the issue of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal sticking to his Lambi constituency in the coming assembly elections was cleared today when the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) announced his candidature for the constituency for the fourth successive term.

Family feud upsets elderly voters
Badal (Lambi), December 23
The formal announcement that Parkash Singh Badal will contest the upcoming Assembly elections against his younger brother Gurdas Singh Badal has upset the elderly voters of the Badal village. They have termed it as an unfortunate phase for the Badal family.

BJP Jalandhar rally: Party leaders lack enthusiasm
Muktsar, December 23
Even as the state leadership of the BJP has been trying its best to prove its December 24 rally at Jalandhar a success, yet it seems the enthusiasm among the local leadership of the party in Muktsar district is missing.

KK Yadav given additional charge
Bathinda, December 23
Kamal Kishore Yadav, deputy commissioner, Bathinda, was today given additional charge of commissioner, Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC), Chief Administrator, Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), and in addition coordinator for effecting monitoring and coordination of execution of water supply and sewerage projects in the District.
Kamal Kishore Yadav

(Above) Sarup Singla being greeted for getting the SAD ticket from Bathinda on Friday; Congmen welcome Chiranji Lal Garg. Tribune photos: Bhupinder Dhillon

Confusion over Badal’s constituency cleared
SP Sharma
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 23
The confusion over the issue of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal sticking to his Lambi constituency in the coming assembly elections was cleared today when the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) announced his candidature for the constituency for the fourth successive term.

Lambi had become a hot spot in the Malwa region as there were speculations that Parkash Singh Badal might hunt for some safe seat as his younger brother Gurdass Badal has announced his candidature against him as a candidate of the Peoples Party of Punjab (PPP) that has been floated by his son Manpreet Singh Badal. Badal's cousin Maheshinder Singh Badal is likely to be the Congress candidate.

The poll activity of the SAD in the Malwa region has picked up as the party has in its first list announced six new candidates for the Malwa region. In the first list of 48 candidates, the SAD has announced 15 nominees for the Malwa region. Constituencies of three others have been changed.

The Congress had virtually swept the Malwa region in the last assembly elections in 2007.

Among the new faces are, Paramdeep Singh Gill (former DGP), Darbara Singh Guru (bureaucrat), Vardev Singh Mann, Dilraj Singh Bhunder and Deep Malhotra.

Those whose constituencies have been changed are, Tota Singh, Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Gurdev Singh Badal.

The candidature of Paramdeep Singh Gill, former DGP, for the Moga seat had become certain when he was brought on deputation to Punjab from his Jammu and Kashmir cadre. He has replaced the former minister Tota Singh who has been shifted to Dharamkot that has been thrown open for the general category following delimitation of seats.

A top bureaucrat Darbara Singh Guru has been named as the candidate for the Bhadaur (SC) seat in place of the sitting MLA of SAD Balvir Singh Ghunus.

Vardev Singh Mann, son of a former MP Jora Singh Mann, is the new face for the Guru Harsahai segment.

Among other young faces that have been introduced in the electoral arena is Dilraj Singh Bhunder in the Sardulgarh segment. Dilraj is son of Balwinder Singh Bhunder, a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Janmeja Singh Sekhon, irrigation minister, has been shifted to the newly created Maur constituency in the Bathinda district from Ferozepur (Rural).

The candidature of a liquor baron Deep Malhotra for the Faridkot constituency has already rattled the SAD circles there.

Gurdev Singh Badal has been given the SAD ticket for the newly created Jaito seat as the Panjgrain segment that he earlier represented has ceased to be.

Sarup Chand Singla, who had lost the 2007 election, has again been given the ticket for the Bathinda (Urban) seat.

Family feud upsets elderly voters
Archit Watts/TNS

Badal (Lambi), December 23
The formal announcement that Parkash Singh Badal will contest the upcoming Assembly elections against his younger brother Gurdas Singh Badal has upset the elderly voters of the Badal village. They have termed it as an unfortunate phase for the Badal family.

Earlier, the residents here were keeping mum regarding the speculations over the two brothers contesting against each other. But today, with the SAD's announcement that CM Parkash Singh Badal will contest the elections again from here, the village residents are in a shock, recollecting the old good memories, when both Parkash (Pash) and Gurdas (Dass) were united.

Being the home turf of the Badals, every political activity in this politically volatile constituency is being minutely watched by Punjabis across the world, especially when this political fight is going to take a "triangular shape" with the willingness of Mahesh Inder Singh Badal of Congress, a younger cousin of Pash and Dass, to contest elections against his two elder cousins.

Hardeep Singh, an octogenarian of the village, said, "Both Pash and Dass were like Ram and Laxman, but the political fight between their sons (Sukhbir and Manpreet) has not only separated them, but has also forced them to contest elections against each other. This is what none in the village had ever dreamt of."

Similarly, another resident, Gurpreet Singh said, "It is very unfortunate that the senior Badal brothers, who were an example of brotherly love, are now going to take on each other." A group of villagers sitting in 'sath' (common place) disclosed that they were speculating that one of the two would retract.

Terming it as one of the most unfortunate development in the Badal family, they said, "It is not that the senior Badals were willing to contest against each other but it is the stubbornness of their sons that has made them archrivals."

BJP Jalandhar rally: Party leaders lack enthusiasm
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, December 23
Even as the state leadership of the BJP has been trying its best to prove its December 24 rally at Jalandhar a success, yet it seems the enthusiasm among the local leadership of the party in Muktsar district is missing.

While visiting local markets at Muktsar, Malout and Gidderbaha today, hardly any BJP hoarding or flag was found put up anywhere. Those political hoardings were found installed, belonged to their alliance partner SAD (B) for their Moga rally of December 18, which they did not remove till date.

When contacted, the state general secretary of BJP, Kamal Sharma accepted the fact that the local leadership did not install hoardings at many important places across Malwa region.

"The rally will prove to be a successful event, but the local leadership somehow failed to put up hoardings in many important cities. To garner the crowd for tomorrow's rally, the duty of putting up hoardings was assigned to the local leaders, but they failed to do that," he said.

KK Yadav given additional charge
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 23
Kamal Kishore Yadav, deputy commissioner, Bathinda, was today given additional charge of commissioner, Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC), Chief Administrator, Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), and in addition coordinator for effecting monitoring and coordination of execution of water supply and sewerage projects in the District.