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SAD-BJP got 45.37% votes, Cong 40.9%
Chandigarh, March 1
Even though the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has emerged as the single largest party in terms of seats in the recently-held Vidhan Sabha elections in Punjab, the Congress continues to hold the distinction of having received the largest share of votes.

Lawyers’ spat turns ugly
Ropar, March 1
Even though the SAD-BJP government in Punjab has to assume office formally, the ongoing trial of Chief Minister-designate Parkash Singh Badal, members of his family and associates in a court here has already been turned into a sham.

Badal begins business of state
Amritsar, March 1
Before taking formal oath as 17th Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal today sought report on the uprooting of 90 slum dwellers in the local Kabir Park locality here after reading a news item in these columns.

Swearing In
More bullet-proof cars called in from other states
Chandigarh, March 1
Preparations for the oath-taking ceremony by Parkash Singh Badal and his ministerial colleagues tomorrow have assumed gigantic proportions with the Punjab Police virtually throwing a security ring around the venue, PCA stadium, Mohali. Thousands of people are expected to turn up at the venue, besides several VVIPs. This kept the security agencies on their toes throughout the day.

Preparations are on in full swing at the PCA stadium in Mohali for the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected Parkash Singh Badal-led government. — A Tribune photograph

Buses to carry SAD-BJP supporters
Amritsar, March 1
Hundreds of buses have been lined up here to carry supporters of the SAD-BJP combine to Chandigarh for the oath-taking ceremony of the new government tomorrow.

Politics is his passion
Chandigarh, March 1
Parkash Singh Badal, who will be sworn-in as the chief minister of Punjab tomorrow, likes to keep his mind to himself, though he has the habit of discussing issues even with a village chowkidar. His humility and capacity to keep political matters and vital decisions to himself till the last moment is unmatchable.

The B(r)ains behind Badal
Chandigarh, March 1
What is little known to people across Punjab is the fact that the brain behind most of the major political moves and strategies of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been Harcharan Bains, a university teacher.

Will No. 13 be lucky?
Chandigarh, March 1
The thirteenth Punjab Vidhan Sabha, when constituted later this month, will have the onerous task of reversing the trend of shrinking number of sessions and sittings.

POLITICS

Sonia urged to probe party’s defeat
Amritsar, March 1
Vice-president of the PPCC M.M. Singh Cheema has urged Sonia Gandhi to appoint a high-powered committee to find out the reasons behind the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections.

COMMUNITY

Pak urged to allow Hindu jathas
Amritsar, March 1
President of the All-India Hindu Shiv Sena Surinder Kumar Billa has demanded that the Pakistan Government should allow Hindu jathas of kar sewaks for undertaking renovation of ancient Hindu shrines across the border.

Thrashing of undertrial to be probed
Ropar, March 1
Deputy commissioner Alok Shekhar today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the brutal beating up of undertrial Khushwinder Singh by jail staff in the district jail here. SDM P.S Gill has been entrusted the task to probe the matter.