Lambi: Win or lose, there will be a Badal Lambi (Muktsar), February 2 It is Badal versus Badal in this high-profile constituency. The SAD supremo, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, faces his cousin, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Badal, who happens to be the son of his mentor, Teja Singh, in a fiercely contested poll battle. ‘Gapori’ versus ‘tyrant’ Dera Bassi/Rajpura, February 2 As the date of polling draws near, the election scene is turning dirty with candidates hitting below the belt.

Sonia to target Badal borough
Chandigarh, February 2
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will concentrate on the cotton belt of Malwa. Notably, she is will address a rally in the pocket borough of the Badal family, Gidderbaha, on February 7 and 10.

Not in race for CM slot: Dullo
Abohar, February 2
PPCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo has categorically denied being in the race for chief ministership. During a visit to the Balluana reserved constituency last evening, Mr Dullo was apparently disturbed over allegations levelled by the party candidate, Mr Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, against the DCC president, Mr Gurnaib Singh Brar, accusing the latter of supporting the SAD candidate, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, in the Ferozepore Cantt constituency,

‘Kanwaljit Singh will lose poll’
Mohali, February 2
“Capt Kanwaljit Singh, SAD general secretary, will lose the Punjab Assembly elections from two constituencies because he is fighting a proxy battle in Kharar and neglecting Banur ,” said Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu, Congress candidate contesting the elections from the Kharar constituency.

Democracy under threat: Bardhan Bathinda, February 2 Lashing out at the Congress as well as the SAD-BJP alliance, the CPI general secretary, Mr A.B. Bardhan, today said democracy was in danger in Punjab. He urged the electorate not to reduce the state to one having a two-party system. The CPI general secretary, Mr A.B. Bardhan, addresses a rally in Bathinda on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Shekhar pitches in for Congress
New Delhi, February 2
Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar today appealed to the people of Punjab to vote for the Congress in the Assembly elections. Mr Chandra Shekhar, who has not been well for some time now, issued a written appeal extending the Samajwadi Janata Party’s support to the Congress for “peace, prosperity and stability in Punjab.”

Party fields two from one seat
Bathinda, February 2
If their election campaign in anything to go by, two candidates have been contesting the elections on the General Samaj Party ticket from Bathinda. Both of them have got their election symbols too.

Disabled and discarded
Chandigarh, February 2
“Since we are already rejected by society at large, various political parties, too, have ignored us,” rue disabled and handicapped persons who roughly account for 3 per cent of the total votes in Punjab.

Acquisitions a thorn in Raghunath’s path
Gurdaspur February 2
The BJP greenhorn, Mr Dinesh Babu, is facing Congress strongman Raghunath Sahay Puri from the Sujanpur Assembly constituency. Though this constituency comprising kandi areas of the state bordering Jammu and Kashmir has been a Congress stronghold, the young BJP candidate is posing a tough challenge.

ME & MYSELF His battle is against graft Dasuya, February 2 Mr Amarjit Singh Shahi was expelled from the Congress in 2002. Having built a mass base over the past five years, this Doon School product knows the Dasuya constituency and its problems like the back of his hand. There are no jobs because there are no avenues. Economic growth and development are therefore his priorities.

Something fishy about Khangura’s affidavit
Chandigarh, February 2
Serious doubts have arisen about the veracity of affidavits filed by a Congress candidate for the ensuing elections. While filing his papers before the Returning Officer for the Qila Raipur constituency, the Congress candidate, Mr Jasbir Singh Khangura, submitted two affidavits as is mandatory under the directions of the Election Commission of India.

Notice to Khanna, Mittal
Nangal, February 2
The BJP MP, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, a former BJP minister and party candidate from Nangal, Mr Maddan Mohan Mittal, and the SE (Headquarters, BBMB), Nangal, were served notice for violating the Model Code of Conduct.

Rajpura rally: SAD-BJP show of strength
Rajpura, February 2 In its first show of strength here ahead of the February 13 elections, the SAD-BJP alliance today gave a clarion call to voters to throw out the “corrupt and inefficient” Amarinder Singh government. BJP leader Sahib Singh (left) and SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal at a rally in Rajpura on Friday.

Kang seeks divine blessings
Mohali, February 2
Congress candidate from Morinda constituency Jagmohan Singh Kang visited Mata Jayanti Devi temple with his family members to pay obeisance at the temple. Hundreds of people from the area and other devotees also accompanied Kang.

Independent, 3 others held for defacing public property
Mohali, February 2
The police arrested an Independent candidate who is contesting Punjab elections from Kharar constituency and three others on a charge of defacing public property. Mr Gurinder Singh Dhillon, SSP, said Bhajan Singh Shergill and three others were arrested and later released as the offence was bailable.

• Ishwar Kaur makes poll promises
• Rs 2 lakh for Dilbagh’s kin

Sukhbir intimidating SSP, Cong tells EC
Chandigarh, February 1
The Punjab Congress today petitioned the Election Commission of India against Shiromani Akali Dal MP Sukhbir Badal for allegedly threatening the SSP, Majitha, yesterday.

SIT to probe Beas violence : CM
Jalandhar, January 31
Rebutting the accusations of Mr Anil Dutta, member of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, at a press conference here today, vehemently denied that money had changed hands for the allocation of the ticket for the Jalandhar( Central) seat.

This young bard sings paeans for Cong
Chandigarh, January 31
Polio is no handicap for this village boy from Faridkot, who has grown into the most sought after traditional campaigner in Punjab.

Roshan Hardialeana at a campaign programme in Faridkot.

BJP Pvt Ltd Co, says Khurana
Gurdaspur, January 31
A former BJP stalwart, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, today vented his ire against the party at a press conference held in favour of the Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party in Pathankot. He alleged that the BJP had been converted into a private limited company. BJP leaders, who till about a decade ago, were living in low-income-group flats, had now become billionaires.

Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party leader Madan Lal Khurana addresses a press conference in Pathankot on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

District Report
Exciting battle in Muktsar
Muktsar, January 31
Considered as a SAD stronghold and Badals' home turf, the district is all set to witness exciting electoral battles with Congress candidates and rebel-turned-Independents giving SAD candidates a run for their money.

1 boat, 50 villages
Chamkaur Sahib, January 31
The life could not have been worse for the villagers of this Assembly constituency. It is in contrast to claims on development in the state by successive governments. Residents of over 50 villages, situated on the banks of the Sutlej, have only one boat to ferry them across the river.

Residents of 50 villages of the Chamkaur Sahib segment have only one boat to ferry them across the Sutlej. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

CISF deployed in Chamkaur Sahib
Ropar, January 31
Apprehending a clash between supporters of the different political parties following the death of Ajeb Singh (55) of Hafhizabad reportedly due to excess liquor consumption, the two companies of the Central Industrial Security Force were deployed in Chamkaur Sahib assembly segment of district here this evening.

Gen-set go: He is hi-tech
Mohali, January 31
Technology helps the tech savvy, and it holds true for candidates in the electoral fray. And if the candidate is an advertising guru, technology is not limited to the use of mobile phone for campaigning.


Tech Savvy: The SAD candidate from Kharar, Mr Jasjit Singh, has engaged a video-enabled truck for campaign. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

SAD to make Amritsar Vatican
Amritsar, January 31
The Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, has said that if voted to power, the SAD-BJP government would develop the holy city of Amritsar as a 'model city' on the pattern of the Vatican.

Candidates hire rickshaws for electioneering in Ropar
Ropar, January 31
Instead of campaigning with a cavalcade of vehicles and in a high tech way, candidates have hired rickshawpullers who play cassettes and announcers boast about candidates to woo the electorate in Ropar and Anandpur Sahib Assembly segments.

SAD promises farmers higher returns on crops
Dera Bassi, January 31
The farmers would be given price of their produce (Atta and Dal) at par with the farmers of Australia from where the country has been importing wheat since long. The country is importing wheat at Rs 1250 per quintal while Punjab farmers are being given a rate of Rs 750 per quintal for their produce.

Sidhu challenges Kanwaljit to open debate on development issues
Mohali, January 31
Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu, Congress candidate from the Kharar constituency, today challenged Capt Kanwaljit Singh, SAD general secretary, for debate on issues related to development in the state during the past five years.

Members of Ravidas Sabha, Mahila Mandal, and panchayat of Devi Nagar village weigh Capt Kanwaljit Singh, the SAD general secretary, against coins during his election campaign on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Jasjit claims industry, doctors’ support
Mohali, January 31
The SAD-BJP candidate, Mr Jasjit Singh, who is contesting the Punjab elections from the Kharar constituency, claimed here today that he was being given support by industrial unit owners and doctors.

Mohali industry won’t support any party
Mohali, January 31
The President of the Mohali Industries Association (MIA), Mr Balbir Singh, said here today that the MIA would not be supporting any political party in the Punjab elections.

Jagmohan Kang tours villages
Mohali, January 31
As part of his election campaign, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, sitting MLA and Congress candidate from the Morinda Assembly constituency, today undertook a tour of Hoshiarpur, Takipur, Kansala, Kartarpur, Dhakoran Kalan, Dhakoran Khurd, Phatwan, Naglian, Kadimajra, Khairpur, Shekhpura, Andheri and Manakpur Sharif villages. He addressed public meetings there.

Ailing Brar campaigns for son
Muktsar, January 31
An ailing Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, former Punjab Chief Minister, today sought votes for his son and Congress candidate from Muktsar, Mr Kanwarjeet Singh Brar, here.

For thrifty voters, it’s laddoonomics
Mansa, January 31
While the Election Commission is asking candidates to be economical, clever voters in this district have turned thrifty on their own while showing solidarity with politicians.

Cong expels 16 more
Chandigarh, January 31
The Congress today expelled 16 more rebels for contesting elections against the party's official nominees. With this the total number of those who have been expelled from the party stands at 24.

Notices issued
Mohali, January 31
Notices have been issued to three Chandigarh based printers who have prepared election posters for candidates contesting the Punjab elections from the Kharar constituency without mentioning the name and address of printers.