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Elections a low-profile affair this time
Manpreet cancels Muktsar Basant rally
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RO turns down objections raised on Jain’s nomination
Security deposit of woman applicant forfeited by RO
Five election observers reach Moga dist
Loot accused still at large
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Elections a low-profile affair this time
This assembly election in Punjab has witnessed many changes as gone are the days when the political parties and the candidates contesting elections were offering chairs to sit, serving tea and eatables to the audience and ace folk singers, comedians, ballad singers and dancing parties regaled the crowd with lively singing and sparkling one-liners. But the entertainment is missing this time. With an expenditure limit of Rs 16 lakh on every candidate and the Election Commission's expenditure monitoring division keeping tab on each penny spent, the elections are not only straitjacketed in terms of campaigning but are also a low-profile affair. As use of each chair in the election rally will add Rs 5 in the poll expenditure, so the contesting candidates are depending on cots and durries. But in this low profile campaigning, while the participants in the election rallies in the rural areas do not face difficulty in sitting on cots, in the urban areas, it is very discomfiting for the participants. While the election posters, buntings, hoardings and flex boards are almost invisible this time, campaigning on the deafening loudspeakers is also missing. It was only during a visit to Fazilka that a loudspeaker fitted rickshaw blaring patriotic songs and campaigning for a particular candidate was found. "Earlier, the election was a roaring business time for all tent houses and printers. But this time, we are sitting idle," said a printing press owner in Faridkot. Vijay Verma, a leading printer of Bathinda, said he had invested about Rs.one crore towards installing a new press and stocking paper in the hope of doing a good business during the election, but his hopes have been dashed as no candidate has come forward to get his posters printed. Singers and dance troupes, always in great demand during the election time, are seeing a low-spirited business. "Earlier, the singers were booked months in advance of the election but this time, there was no such booking," said Nirmal Singh Sadhawalia, director of a leading music business company. Taxi operators were also sitting idle as not many vehicles have been hired by the political parties. The election expenditure monitoring cell in every constituency is maintaining a strict vigil on camouflaged expenditure, said Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot. While all individuals will have to furnish their expense details within three days but political parties will also have to give a detailed account of the overall expenditure under various heads within 75 days of the conclusion of the polls, said KK Yadav, DC, Bathinda. |
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Manpreet cancels Muktsar Basant rally
Bathinda, January 13 Announcing this here today, Manpreet Badal said the leaders of the Sanjha Morcha today decided not to organise any big rally during the elections anywhere in the state as it would put heavy financial burden on the candidates or the parties (that had formed Sanjha Morcha) contesting the Assembly elections. Manpreet was here this evening to participate in the Lohri celebrations. He lit a bonfire to celebrate Lohri and also delivered a message to the gathering, saying he has now performed 'Ardas" before the Almighty for the eradication of poverty, corruption, unemployment and drug abuse from the state. The programme was organised by his party in the Gol Diggi area here. Besides Manpreet, the PPP candidate from Bathinda (Urban) constituency Sukhdeep Singh Bhinder, district secretary of the CPI, Jagjit Singh Joga and district secretary of the CPM, Sat Pal Bharti, also participated in the programme. Manpreet said it was a matter of sorrow that the political parties have not been able to release their election manifesto so far. He said it showed that these parties were not serious about the elections. Besides, they had also no ideas about the welfare of the people. On the other hand, the PPP had already given its 100 days programme to the people of the state, he added. Manpreet said there was a fight in these elections between the two sides. One is in favour of the existing political system while the other (Sanjha Morcha) wants a change in the existing system. He said it was now up to the people as to which side they preferred. However, he said he was seeing an indication of change in the political set-up. Manpreet also said he wanted that his son should not join politics, rather, he should make his career as a lawyer. He said his son had campaigned for his party for some days, but had returned to America today. He said there was a fear in the minds of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's family, due to which it had been targeting the PPP instead of the Congress. Manpreet said that nobody could defeat him in Gidderbaha, even if the SAD and the Congress jointly contest against him there. "The Lohri festival is a sign of change and I am expecting the people of Punjab will bring change in the state on January 30," he said. |
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Rebels returning to party fold: Capt
Muktsar, January 13 “Though initially, there was some hue and cry over the allotment of party tickets, yet all 21 rebels are ready to come back and support the party candidates. I am in constant touch with all of them and by the last date for the withdrawal of nominations, there will be no rebel from the Congress in the fray,” said a confident Amarinder. He was here to welcome former MLA and senior Akali leader Bhai Harnirpal Singh ‘Kukku’ of Muktsar and Jabar Jang Singh Brar of Gidderbaha to the party fold at the former’s residence. Immediately after landing here from Chandigarh, Amarinder paid obeisance at the historic Gurdwara on the occasion of Lohri. Addressing a gathering at Bhai Kukku’s house, he claimed that the entry of Kukku in the party fold would improve the Congress’s prospects in the Malwa region in the polls. |
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RO turns down objections raised on Jain’s nomination
Moga, January 13 The objection was raised by Sathi, who has also filed nomination papers, for not mentioning Section 12 of the Passport Act in a case which was registered against Jain a few years back. However, the legal counsel for Jain argued that as per the format of the affidavit, there was no need to mention the contents of the FIR registered against any candidate. It is mandatory to mention only the charges framed by the court under which the conviction is awarded, he said. The RO, while talking to The Tribune, revealed that he also discussed the issue with the election observer. The objection raised by the rebel candidate was turned down on valid legal grounds. Meanwhile, Jain said he has mentioned all the facts as per the rules after consulting the legal experts and he was not required to mention the contents of the FIR in the affidavit. Adding that his opponents were troubled over his growing popularity in the area, he said that such gimmicks would not hamper his poll prospects. “I am confident of winning the elections despite the fact that most of the official machinery is being misused by the Akalis,” he alleged. |
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Security deposit of woman applicant forfeited by RO
Bathinda, January 13 The RO, Harjit Singh Kandhola, during the scrutiny of papers, observed that as Gurcharan Kaur had been convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, she was liable to be disqualified for contesting the elections to the legislative assembly. She had filed the nomination as an independent candidate. Kandhola observed that the special judge, Bathinda, SK Aggarwal, had awarded rigorous imprisonment to her under the Section 13(2) and 7 of the Act. |
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Five election observers reach Moga dist
Moga, January 13 For Nihalsinghwala and Baghapurana constituencies, Hari Raj Kishore has been appointed as general observer. Histelephone numbers are 94786-91534, 0522-2235894, 94155-88000 and 01636-239935. The general observer for Moga constituency is Satyabrata Sahu. His phone numbers are 94786-91531, 094432-28804 and 01636-239935. The general observer for Dharamkot constituency is BL Meena, whose telephone numbers are 94786-91456, 94154-32437 and 01636-239935. The EC has also deployed a special woman police observer DIG Minakshi Sharma. She is the head of the Narcotics Cell, Indore. The expenditure observer for Moga and Dharamkot constituencies is Subash Chander. His phone numbers are 98553-23798 and 01636-225104.
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Loot accused still at large
Bathinda, January 13 The complainant Manoj Kumar, a resident of Dhobiana road said, he is a sub-broker in a share company, having office in front of the Hotel Maharaja near the old bus stand. Investigating officer in the case, SI Piyara Singh, could not be contacted. Civil Line SHO Pritpal Singh said, “Efforts are on to arrest the accused soon.” |
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With the Election Commission tightening the noose on election expenditure, candidates of various political parties have evolved different methods to remain within the capped amount.
Bathinda, January 13
Bathinda/Faridkot, January 13