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CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Grand old man strides silently
Bariwala (Muktsar), January 31
After a rather shaky start, the election campaign of a former Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, who is the Congress candidate for the Muktsar Assembly constituency, has begun to gather steam.
RSS sore over SAD’s Christian nominee
Gurdaspur, January 31
The RSS’s known antipathy for Christianity and the ongoing feud with its followers in various parts of the country has cast its shadow on the SAD-BJP alliance candidates in this district.
Pawar opposes ‘palace’ politics
Ludhiana, January 31
Former Union Minister and president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today claimed that the Congress had reduced itself to the culture of “palace politics” and it was against the ethos of the party.
Tohra, Mann boost morcha campaign
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 31
The whirlwind tour of the Sirhind constituency by two stalwarts of the Panthic Morcha, belonging to this district, Mr G.S. Tohra and Mr S.S. Mann, has intensified the election campaign of Mr Iman Singh Mann, the morcha candidate from the constituency.
More mine blasts as people return
Gatti Masta (Indo-Pak border), January 31
With people returning to their homes, the incidents of mine blasts have increased along zero line in the Ferozepore sector.
Last evening at 6.30 p.m., when Tribune reporters were on a tour of
villages near Mamdot, close to the Indo-Pak border, a powerful
explosion rocked the entire area.
Jacob
honours NCC cadets
Chandigarh, January 31
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) should act as a stepping-stone for students to get commissioned in the armed forces, the Punjab Governor, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) said while speaking informally after honouring NCC cadets who had participated in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, at a function organised at Punjab Raj Bhavan here today.
PROFILE OF CONSTITUENCIES
Cong makes inroads into SAD-BJP bastion
Ferozepore, January 31
The Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bhartiya Janata Party may have swept the eight Assembly seats in the district during the 1997 elections but this time the Congress is giving sleepless nights to the ruling coalition in Abohar, Fazilka, Jalalabad, Balluana and Guru Har Sahai segments.
BSP promises graft-free regime
Jalandhar, January 31
With “freedom from corruption” as its main poll plank, the BSP today released its manifesto. It promised tax exemption for small-scale industrial units, free health services for the poor, appointment of unemployed teachers on contract, free residential plots for Dalits and implementation of Mandal Commission report.
Clad in black, BJP rebels float party
Jalandhar, January 31
Even as “rebel” BJP leaders, clad in black robes, staged a novel dharna around the statue of Mahatama Gandhi today to lodge their protest against “Inaction” of the BJP leadership against “corrupt” leaders, the state BJP chief, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, justified allotment of petrol pumps to his wife.
Cobbling support by shoeshine
Hoshiarpur, January 31
Even as candidates of various political parties are spending lakhs on their campaign for the ensuing Assembly elections in Punjab, a cobbler, Mr Om Parkash Jakhu, who is contesting on the Lok Jan Shakti Party ticket from the Shamchaurasi constituency, believes money really is not required. He does not use cars, posters, handbills, loudspeakers and banners.
Local issues to determine fortunes
Mansa, January 31
Pressing local issues such as lack of development, educational and professional institutions, basic civic amenities and the presence of Independent candidates are the pivotal factors which will
determine the fortune of those in fray in this 10-year-old district.
POLL BRIEFS
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Minister weighed
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CPI Support
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Pawar campaigns
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Singla's plan
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‘Vote Badal
out'
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Code flouted
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NCP rally
Wooing with drugs
Ferozepore, January 31
Elections bring cheer to drug addicts as a majority of the candidates use liquor, poppy husk and even opium to lure them.
Widow’s search for justice
Chandigarh, January 31
How slow official machinery moves is evident from the case of Mrs Sawinder Kaur, who has been running from pillar to post for the past more than two years to get a plot transferred in her name after the death of her husband.
Case against Kewal adjourned to February 4
Bathinda, January 31
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Surjit Singh, today adjourned the hearing on the bail application moved by former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib in a criminal case registered against him, his son Baljinder Singh and Joginder Kaur in connection with the alleged dowry death of his daughter-in-law, Sharnjit Kaur, to February 4.
Programme for trade union leaders
Patiala, January 31
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) for the first time in its history organised a programme for trade union leaders under the title "partners in progress" at the Power Management Institute of the NTPC, Noida.
DC: adhere to model code
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 31
Mr Vikas Partap, District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, has urged all contesting candidates of Sirhind constituency and political parties to strictly abide by the model code of conduct during the election campaign. He said stern action would be taken against candidates violating the model code of conduct.
Ex-minister booked under Arms Act
Kapurthala, January 31
The police has registered a case under Section 29 of the Arms Act against veteran Akali leader and former Education Minister Sukhjinder Singh who is also the father of the Congress candidate from the Bholath Assembly segment.
PhD in physical chemistry, but guide in another
Amritsar, January 31
The Research Degree Board of Guru Nanak Dev University has taken an unprecedented decision to allow a professor, Mr Surjit Singh, (who is a Ph.D in physical chemistry) to supervise the work of two persons who have enrolled themselves for Ph.D in computer engineering.
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New Delhi, January 31