The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Lok Sabha elections Advani, Nitish to address rally Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 4 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has announced the name of Rajwinder Kaur, wife of late Gurdeep Singh Bhullar, former MLA from the Nurmahal Assembly segment, as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate from the Nurmahal constituency for bypoll. The seat had fallen vacant when Gurdeep Singh Bhullar, sitting MLA of the SAD (B), died of heart attack. While talking to media this evening, Badal also informed that all NDA leaders, including Nitish Kumar and Lal Krishan Advani, would take part in the mega rally to be held in Ludhiana on May 10. They would also address the gathering, he added. To a query that two IPS officers were forcibly getting the postal ballot papers signed from state police personnel, including Home Guards, in favour of the SAD candidate from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Badal rubbished the allegation as a “white lie”. Answering another question on atrocities on Sikhs in Pakistan by Taliban, he strongly condemned the incident on Sikh minority community in Pakistan. He urged the Government of India to take a strong note of these incidents and seek security for the Sikhs and Hindus living in Pakistan. The Centre should take up the matter with the Pakistan government, he demanded. Seeking deployment of Central forces in Punjab during LS polls by Amarinder Singh, Badal said that Amarinder could ask for deployment of Army in Punjab but he believed in free in fair elections.
	Stars descend on city to canvass for SAD nominee Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 4 Bollywood stars Sunny Deol and Jitendra today held a exuberant road show in the district to woo voters and implored them to vote for SAD-BJP candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat Harsimrat Kaur Badal. After a round of Rampura, Maur, Talwandi Sabo and Goniana Mandi, the cine stars moved around in Bathinda city where they received a rousing reception from the residents, especially the youngsters. Moving in a white colour Audi, they shifted to a canter after reaching Gonaina. To make the show impressive, hundreds of youngsters riding two-wheelers, with SAD-BJP flags fluttering on their bikes and in their hands, kept following the stars throughout the road show. Wearing a white shirt and a light blue cap, Sunny Deol, referred to as Punjab Da Puttar, kept waving at his fans throughout. Receiving garlands from the public, he said on the loudspeaker, “Sat Sri Akal. Mainu bahot khushi hoyi Punjab aa ke. Tuhade ditte pyar da main shukargujar haan.” “Main request karda haan ke vote Akali Dal nu hi payo,” he urged the public while asking them to cast vote in favour of the SAD (B) candidate. Jitendra, the evergreen star, looking immaculate in his impressive off white suit remained standing with folded hands and a smiling face. Passion among the crowd, hailing from all walks of life, was high as they kept chasing the caravan to have a glance of their heroes, least worried that their vehicles were colliding repeatedly with the vehicles of the security personnel and others. People were quite anxious to capture images of their heroes on their mobile phones and cameras. It was a tiresome job for the security personnel to stop the public who were excited and wanted to touch their dream stars. Deputy Chief Minister-cum-SAD (B) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also accompanied the film stars but after covering Goniana and two colonies in the city, he left to attend a function on another route. Passion surged among the SAD (B) supporters and people in general when the caravan crossed the ongoing rallies of BSP and the Congress near Gol Diggi. Seeing the road show, BSP leaders chanted repeatedly, “Jo humse takrayaga, chur chur ho jayega” even as ebullient SAD (B) supporters replied in kind raising their own voices over the din.
	Controversy over registration of Army voters Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 4 The controversy over the registration of service personnel of the Bathinda Military Station as general voters of the country is yet to abate Army officers have been expressing their resentment that only 2189 Army men have been registered as general voters out of the total 5875 “accepted” forms. Moreover, they have also expressed their unhappiness over the non-acceptance of 3500 additional application forms, ready for submission, allegedly on the pretext of heavy workload of the district electoral officers. The district election staff, however, is not ready to buy the argument. Besides presenting several evidence in their support, they have now sorted out the rejected forms to point to the fact that some of the Army men have been applying with fake signatures which amounts to no less than a crime. According to information available, in one set of application form, Form-6, Form ID, Annexure 5.5 and a declaration form (affidavit) all should be signed by the applicant himself, but here, no signature matches the other. In all rejected forms on the pretext of fake signatures, a slip has been pasted by the EROs mentioning the observed difference in signature, a clear violation of the electoral rules. Further, in a communication to the Army, an ERO has mentioned that this incident might have invited serious consequences as it is tantamount to challenging the election machinery upholding the Representation of Peoples Act, 1950. Though the Army men did not express their interest in coming out openly in the media over the issue, in a procured copy of the communication between the ECI and the Army, they had leveled a number of allegations on the district electoral staff over its ‘shoddy’ attitude. The short notice period for personal hearing, demand for an additional declaration (annexure 5.5) and loss of ten ‘precious’ days in receiving a clarification on a term “residing with family”, have been mentioned in the letter by the army authorities. Further, the Army officer mentioned in the letter that service personnel were advised not to go for hearing till the clarification remains pending. Terming it as grave injustice, they recommended that all Army personnel here, who were not able to appear before the EROs as per the schedule from March 17-April 6, be given a second chance to do so. Further, requisite electoral resources be requisitioned to facilitate registration of the additional 3500 voters awaiting acceptance. Replying to the queries, Returning Officer Rahul Tewari said, “How can a period of about 20 continuous days (March 17-April 6) be short? Moreover, the senior Army officers were requested to make their men aware about the two other ways to exercise the franchise: through postal ballots and proxy voting. But the EROs informed me that despite taking the responsibility, hardly any Army man was made aware of it.” As per the documents available, randomly verifying a few forms, the electoral staff also raised doubt over the possible registration of Army men in other constituencies also. Tewari further said, “I have been informed that some of the Army men, when called to appear in person, tried to impersonate identities by removing the name plates.” When contacted, Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Kaur Sidhu said the appeal has reached her and the matter is sub-judice. She said she has asked for some more details as they were incomplete.
	Long poll schedule affecting people Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, May 4 Ten weeks of time for campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections from the date of announcement of the polls seems to be favourable for the political parties and candidates, however, for the general public it appears to be otherwise in Punjab. The elections were announced by the Election Commission in the first week of March with the poll schedule in two phases in the state. The voting for Patiala, Sangrur, Bathinda and Ferozepur constituencies is scheduled for May 7 and in the rest of the nine constituencies on May 13, this year. Most of the work done at the administrative level by the government in the districts and in the sub-divisions has been adversely affected due to the imposition of the model code of conduct of the polls. The whole attention of the administrators has been diverted on implementing the code, thereby, putting an extra burden of work on the bureaucrats. Dwarka Bansal, chairman of the local citizens' welfare council says that the imposition of poll code from the date of the announcement of polls has almost halted the normal functioning of the government at the administrative level. He says that the long gap between the date of the announcement of the polls and the date of polling is unnecessary. The long period may give the contestants enough time to plan their strategies for campaign but the long span of electioneering has led to wastage of money, manpower and time. Pritpal Singh, running a newspaper and magazine shop in the bus stand here says that long period of elections also causes anxiety to all sections, particularly the college going students, who are busy in taking their annual examinations. The college examinations are going on as usual and no changes have been made by the universities due to the 'unrelenting' attitude of the Election Commission. The post-graduation and graduation examinations of all the state universities are in progress. There were reports that hundreds of college teachers (regular employees) have been put on election duty in all the districts of the state while the adhoc teachers are conducting the examinations. On the other hand, the election period has also halted hundreds of new projects, besides, adversely affecting many new works at the district levels. The campaigning initiated by all political parties to garner support in their favour has also disturbed the life of a common man. Most of the people feel that the long period of elections does not seem to be justified for a common man whose attention is possibly diverted from the routine works during the elections.
	Ghubaya wants loopholes plugged Our Correspondent Abohar, May 4 SAD-BJP candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya did not mince any words in telling the senior BJP leader Arun Jaitely that warring factions of the saffron party need to be pursued to support him from the cores of their heart. Speaking during a rally here this evening, Ghubaya said, "My campaign is going well but loopholes in some places need to be plugged since only 72 hours are left in hand. You have come here to strengthen your party, please ask the warring factions to work for my victory ignoring personal whims and prejudices." Interestingly, this was the second election rally in the urban area but again could not ensure good attendance. The first rally was addressed by Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal after sunset last week but the same had been termed as poorest of the election rallies held ever on the circular road. People had been told to reach the venue by 2 pm while Arun Jaitely, accompanied by Rajya Sabha member Naresh Gujral, arrived at 4.30 pm. As he stood up to speak, women started leaving the place. Jaitely said, "I want to tell Vijay Luxmi Bhadoo and other local leaders that party president Raj Nath Singh and our prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani have directed that all of you should work hard during next 72 hours to ensure victory of Sher Singh. If we loose this seat, our position in forming the NDA-led government stands affected. Ferozepore constituency is very important for us. The SAD-BJP had jointly contested the Assembly elections and won barring Abohar as the Congress had indulged in unhealthy tactics here. That is not to be repeated, ensure lead from this segment also. We had won in municipal elections, why can't repeat that performance, he asked.
	SAD-BJP govt failed on all fronts, says Capt Mansa, May 4 Former chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh today said that SAD - BJP government had failed on all fronts. Due to the wrong policies of SAD, the state has come under the grip of economic crisis, he added. He said that CM Parkash Singh Badal had promoted the family rule following which most of the ministers were the relative of Badal family. The atrocities of the Badal government had enraged the people and now people of the state were in a mood to give befitting reply through voting in elections. He claimed that the Congress would win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats of Punjab and SAD-BJP would fall after elections. Dr Manmohan Singh is a capable Prime Minister so he deserves to rule the country for its welfare, he said. He called upon the party workers to protect the polling booths during voting. Central forces have been deployed in Punjab and no high handedness and injustice would be allowed. Among others, who addressed the rally were Ajit Inder Singh Mofar MLA, Raminder Amla.
	Pinki tries to bridge party divide for win Our Correspondent Ferozepur, May 4 Congress leaders in Ferozepur, according to PPCC general secretary Parminder Singh Pinki, are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the victory of their party candidate Jagmeet Brar. Party insiders said 'infighting' with in the Congress had prevented the party from winning the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat for the last 22 years, but this time, Pinki said, efforts had been made to get all the groups within the party on one platform. Pinki is being used by the party along with Brar to woo the Jat Sikhs as well as other voters in Ferozepur, Anandpur Sahib and Jalandhar constituencies. Pinki claimed there was no difference in his 'intentons and working' and claimed that craze for him mong the youth is so high that they wish to 'weigh' him by their blood. Meanwhile, the appointment of OBC leader Lal Singh is also expected to benefit Jagmeet Brar as OBC voters are in large numbers here along with the rally addressed by the PM on Saturday.