The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Gurkirat Kotli banking on his family legacy
Khanna, January 23
Gurkirat Singh Kotli during his campaign. Known as Asia’s biggest grain market in the world, this town is, perhaps, the most chaotic in the region. As we turn our car towards Ward Number 4, it becomes difficult to negotiate a curve in a narrow lane. We come across a young man dressed in immaculate white followed by a band of supporters.

Gurkirat Singh Kotli during his campaign. A Tribune photograph

STATE OF PARTIES
BJP’s internal feud may prove to be its undoing
Chandigarh , January 23
Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one party that does not have any rebels in the fray. But this does not mean all is well within the party. A party of disciplined cadres, its feuds may not be out in the open, but the internal simmering is palpable.

Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma

BJP manifesto today

Kalia harps on development
Jalandhar, January 23
Manoranjan Kalia canvasses in a locality in Jalandhar city. Contesting for the fifth time in a row from Jalandhar Central, BJP’s Manoranjan Kalia hopes that development works executed in this constituency during the past five years will ensure his victory. He reminds the people at the rallies that it was he who had got sanctioned Rs 300 crore for various projects, including the flyovers, setting up of the NIFT institute and laying of sewer pipes, in the area.

Manoranjan Kalia canvasses in a locality in Jalandhar city. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh

COMMUNITY

Women opt to keep off election rallies
Chandigarh, January 23
They are the ones who can make or mar the fortunes of any of the 1,000-odd candidates in the fray. With women in the state accounting for 47.28 per cent of the total voters, they are, indeed, a powerful group that the political parties should be concentrating on. But strangely, women seem to be as disinterested in the electioneering process as the major parties in winning them over. May be the politicians think it’s the men who influence the women’s decision on who to vote for, which explains why they are more keen on wooing the male voters.

SAD, Cong workers clash in Malerkotla
Malerkotla, January 23
Workers of the Congress and the SAD clashed in Model Town area late tonight, throwing stones on one another.

District status for Pathankot is BJP chief’s trump card
Pathankot, January 23
When Ashwani Sharma took over the state BJP reins last year, he had told newsmen: “I may be new to you, but I am not new to the party.” Now, the BJP president has been, during his campaign in Pathankot, reiterating the same thing while seeking votes. Having become a candidate after the party denied re-nomination to sitting legislator and former minister Master Mohan Lal, Sharma has been trying his best to convince the voters that “he is the right choice”.

Despite poll code, liquor flows freely in Ropar dist
Ropar, January 23
Strict electoral laws notwithstanding, liquor continues to flow freely in all constituencies of the district with the holy towns of Anandpur Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib topping the list. Liquor sale is not allowed in the precincts of Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib, yet in these townships there have been several instances of liquor seizure since the announcement of the Vidhan Sabha elections. Representatives of different parties concede that the ground reality is even worse.

Valtoha banking on direct contact with his voters
Khemkaran, January 23
This candidate is a people’s man. Most rickshaw drivers have his cell number and his opponents cringe at the direct connect he has established with the electorate. Former militant and SAD candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha has made his “direct connect” with the people a poll issue against Congress candidate and former minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar.

SAD candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha (L) from Khemkaran at an election rally. A Tribune photograph

Remark on Golden Temple by TV host flayed
New Delhi, January 23
India today took exception to the remark on the Golden Temple by American television host Jay Leno and asked its envoy to the US to immediately take up the issue with the authorities concerned.

Campaign Diary
Poll Snippets

COURTS

Cable business: Case referred to another Bench
Chandigarh, January 23
The cable business case, in which Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal's name had earlier surfaced, has taken a new turn.

Plea against NK Sharma dismissed
Chandigarh, January 23
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a petition seeking cancellation of SAD candidate NK Sharma's nomination from Dera Bassi. Independent candidate from Dera Bassi Deepinder Dhillon had alleged Sharma had not furnished complete information in the affidavit on the case registered against him on September 9, 2003.

	Capt vows to re-open Hussainiwala border Says Cong will implement 27% reservation for BCs Anirudh Gupta Guruharsahai, January 23 Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today said if voted to power, the Congress government would make all efforts to re-open the Hussainiwala-Lahore international border for trade and transit. This, he said, would usher in a new era of growth and prosperity in the border area. Capt Amarinder Singh was addressing a rally at the local grain market in support of sitting Congress MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi. He accused the SAD-BJP government of “committing atrocities” on innocent people, especially Congress workers against whom “fabricated” police cases had been slapped. He said the Akalis had only filled their own coffers in the past five years instead of pursuing the interests of the state. He alleged the mining, cable and liquor trade was in the hands of people associated with the ruling alliance. Elaborating on the Congress agenda, Amarinder said his government would introduce welfare schemes for poor farmers and encourage small-scale industry. He promised 27 per cent reservation for Backward Classes and a special grant for the education of the girlchild. Sodhi demanded a package of Rs 300 crore for the development of Guruharsahai and setting up of industry in the area for generating jobs for the local youth. He claimed the Congress would win at least 70 seats. Vijayinder Singla, Sangrur MP, Anoop Singh, DCC presiddent and Sunil Vij were also present. Meanwhile, three Independents from Guruharsahai- Satnam Paul Kamboj , Manoj Kumar and Ganda Singh- pledged support to Congress candidate Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi. They were offered siropas by Capt Amarinder Singh. Kamboj said his main agenda was reservation for the BCs, including his own community. Om Parkash, son of former MLA Sajawar Singh also announced his support for Sodhi.
	Gurkirat Kotli banking on his family legacy Sarbjit Dhaliwal/TNS Khanna, January 23 Known as Asia’s biggest grain market in the world, this town is, perhaps, the most chaotic in the region. As we turn our car towards Ward Number 4, it becomes difficult to negotiate a curve in a narrow lane. We come across a young man dressed in immaculate white followed by a band of supporters. His face is almost covered with garlands and it is difficult to recognise him.We are told that he is Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Congress candidate and grandson of the late Chief Minister Beant Singh. Gurkirat has over the years transformed into a suave politician. He humbly touches the feet of the elderly and shakes hand with the youth his age. He greets young women with “Sat Sri Akal” and “namaskar”, his head bowed in respect. To an old shopkeeper Ram Parkash, he introduces himself as the grandson of Beant Singh. Gurkirat becomes sentimental when told by the shopkeeper that he was his grandfather’s friend. With cameras clicking, leaders accompanying Gurkiart jostle with one another to be seen in the frame. Little kids accompanying the crowd demand colourful paper caps and friendship bands from him. He obliges each of them.Their faces glowing with joy, the kids leave wearing the arm bands. “I am working hard. I remind people of the sacrifices my grandfather made to bring peace in the state. I am hopeful that the people will recognise this fact and vote for me”, he says. On being called an “outsider”, he says: “My village is only a few miles from this town. How can I be an outsider?” Girkirat is pitted against SAD-BJP’s Ranjit Singh Talwandi, son of Jagdev Singh Talwandi, and PPP’s Gurpreet Singh Bhatti. Ranjit Singh is seeking votes in the name of development. Bhatti, a close associate of PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal, is seeking mandate for change.
	STATE OF PARTIES BJP’s internal feud may prove to be its undoing Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service Chandigarh , January 23 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one party that does not have any rebels in the fray. But this does not mean all is well within the party. A party of disciplined cadres, its feuds may not be out in the open, but the internal simmering is palpable. The Punjab BJP is a house divided with one faction owing allegience to Arun Jaitley and the other with Narendra Modi. It was owing to internal strife that three BJP ministers were dropped and portfolios of others shuffled last year. Former Parliamentary Secretary Jagdish Sawhney, who was denied the ticket with Batala being allotted to the SAD, has joined the Congress. His followers are now supporting Congress nominee Ashwani Sikri in Batala and are giving a tough time to SAD’s Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal and People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) nominee Yadwinderdeep Singh Buttar. Similarly, former Punjab Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal was dropped from the Cabinet rather unceremoniously and then denied the party ticket from Pathankot. State BJP chief Ashwani Sharma has been allotted the ticket instead. The BJP in Pathankot is divided with Master Mohan Lal lending only half-hearted support to Sharma. The BJP is contesting 23 seats. It had won 19 seats in the 2007 elections. This time, it has replaced seven candidates and swapped the Batala and Garshankar seats with the Akalis for Ludhiana West and Amritsar East. The BJP has fielded former BJP state president Rajinder Bhandari from Ludhiana West, the seat earlier held by Harish Rai Dhanda of the SAD. For the Amritsar East seat, the party has fielded Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Amritsar MP Navjot Sidhu. The BJP is facing a major problem explaining to voters the corruption charges against its former Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana and former Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia in a land scandal. While Kalia and Khurana are in the fray from Jalandhar Central and Rajpura, former ministers Master Mohan Lal and Swarna Ram, who are untarnished, have been dropped. Sharma has replaced Master and Som Parkash, a former bureaucrat, fielded from Phagwara instead of Swarna Ram. The BJP is trying to cash in on the grant of district status to Abohar and Pathankot but is facing flak on account of lack of development in urban areas. The SAD and BJP are alliance partners, but the past five years saw a lot of bickering between the two on grant of funds for urban development. The BJP initially sought Rs 1,100 crore for urban development but was promised Rs 800 crore by the then Finance Minister Manpreet Badal. This money remained elusive. Later, the Chief Minister announced an urban grant of Rs 300 crore and the Deputy CM an urban development package with schemes that were modified versions of existing ones. This has hit the BJP vote bank hard. Also, BJP leader in the Vidhan Sabha Tikshan Sud is facing graft charges from officers of his own department. The matter is in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and has damaged the party’s image. The issue is being raised by the Congress at all rallies, especially in Doaba and Majha. The The BJP is also finding it hard to explain the scandals in the Hoshiarpur and Dasuya civic bodies. The BJP has pockets of influence in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar , Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana , Rajpura, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts. Since the party has nothing much to show in terms of urban development, the BJP leaders are highlighting the “anti-people” policies of the UPA Government. Yet the role of the party in these elections is significant. Only if the BJP retains its urban vote bank will the ruling alliance be back in the saddle. BJP manifesto today Chandigarh: The BJP will release its party manifesto at Jalandhar tomorrow, almost on the lines of that released by the SAD at Ludhiana yesterday. The BJP manifesto promises 100 per cent water supply in all towns and cites. It provides for free housing for the urban poor. The BJP has borrowed several initiatives like free medical treatment for the urban poor, modernisation of road transport in cities, Metro for Ludhiana and POD cabs in Amritsar from the SAD manifesto. The manifesto can be called a response to the demand of urban areas. The BJP manifesto promises continuation of the urban revival initiatives. — TNS
	Kalia harps on development Dharmendra Joshi Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 23 Contesting for the fifth time in a row from Jalandhar Central, BJP’s Manoranjan Kalia hopes that development works executed in this constituency during the past five years will ensure his victory. He reminds the people at the rallies that it was he who had got sanctioned Rs 300 crore for various projects, including the flyovers, setting up of the NIFT institute and laying of sewer pipes, in the area. Addressing a meeting at Suchi Pind, he describes several Paragpur, Baring, Dhanowali, Dhilwan, Ladhewali, Suchi Pind, Kaki Pind and Lallewali areas as “Bihar of Punjab”. These areas, earlier part of Jalandhar Cantonment, have now been included in the Jalandhar Central segment. Kalia says these areas have not seen development despite the Cantonment segment being represented by Congress bigwigs, including the late Beant Singh and former ministers Tej Prakash and Gurkanwal Kaur. The former Local Bodies Minister campaigns from 7am to 10 pm daily. He visits nearly 500 houses during door-to-door campaigning from 7am to 10 am. After breakfast, he holds meetings with his confidants. at 10 am, he ventures out to address public meetings. He does not forget telling the people about scams and unabated inflation under the Dr Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government at the Centre. His opponent Congress candidate Rajinder Beri campaigns from 8 am to 10 pm daily, holding 8 to 10 public meetings a day. The Congress had earlier allocated this seat to former MLA Raj Kumar Gupta but later replaced him with Beri. An agitated Gupta is not campaigning for Beri. With 16,000 Bania voters sympathetic towards Gupta, this may create a problem for the Congress candidate. Gupta says he is electioneering for other Congress candidates but will not do so for Beri.

	Women opt to keep off election rallies Ruchika M Khanna/TNS Chandigarh, January 23 They are the ones who can make or mar the fortunes of any of the 1,000-odd candidates in the fray. With women in the state accounting for 47.28 per cent of the total voters, they are, indeed, a powerful group that the political parties should be concentrating on. But strangely, women seem to be as disinterested in the electioneering process as the major parties in winning them over. May be the politicians think it’s the men who influence the women’s decision on who to vote for, which explains why they are more keen on wooing the male voters. But this is a myth that women, more so in rural areas, are now choosing to demolish. Having access to poll-related information, courtesy the local TV and radio channels, women voters in the state have turned assertive. Asked if she would follow the family diktat on who to vote for, Kashmir Kaur of Garletahan village near Balachaur, pooh-poohs the suggestion. “This is my vote, and I will cast it in favour of a candidate of my choice. I listen to the election promises made by the candidates in my constituency on the TV channel,” she says. But women across the state have chosen to stay away from political rallies. In Cheene Singh Wala Di Basti near Ferozepur, Sumitra Mai, says women in villages stay away from public meetings. “But this does not mean that we are unaware of the campaign of a candidate. We talk about it among ourselves and decide on who to vote for. We shun political meetings where booze is freely served to menfolk,” she observes.
	SAD, Cong workers clash in Malerkotla Vikrant Jindal Malerkotla, January 23 Workers of the Congress and the SAD clashed in Model Town area late tonight, throwing stones on one another. While SAD activists alleged that Congress workers threw bricks at the residence of Mohammad Izhar Alam, Congress men alleged that Akali workers smashed the windows of 10 party vehicles. Both Razia Sultana, Congress candidate from Malerkotla, and Mohammad Izhar Alam, husband of SAD candidate Farzana Alam, rushed to the site. Alam alleged that Congress musclemen attacked his house with bricks and fired shots. Executive Magistrate Gurmukh Singh said he would demand more security in the town. Anirudh Gupta adds fromFerozepur: Supporters of Congress candidate from Ferozepur (Urban) Parminder Singh Pinki and Congress rebel Ravinder Singh Sandhu contesting as an Independent clashed during an election debate organised by a private TV channel here on Monday evening. The There was complete chaos as both parties flung chairs and exchanged blows. Several persons were reportedly injured. The cameras of some mediapersons were damaged.
	District status for Pathankot is BJP chief’s trump card Jangveer Singh/TNS Pathankot, January 23 When Ashwani Sharma took over the state BJP reins last year, he had told newsmen: “I may be new to you, but I am not new to the party.” Now, the BJP president has been, during his campaign in Pathankot, reiterating the same thing while seeking votes. Having become a candidate after the party denied re-nomination to sitting legislator and former minister Master Mohan Lal, Sharma has been trying his best to convince the voters that “he is the right choice”. Canvassing in a Toyota Innova along with local SGPC member Dilbagh Singh, he maintains he is different from other politicians. “People make promises to seek votes. But I have come to seek a mandate after having delivered on my promises,” he says. Addressing a meeting in Kaulgarh, he plays his trump card: “I got the district status for Pathankot, something that would not have been possible had I not been the BJP state chief. A civil hospital, college and various government offices are on their way.” At another gathering a few miles ahead, a voter brings to Sharma’s notice how travel in Pathankot becomes difficult with even the slightest of rain. The BJP chief is quick to counter in a sarcastic manner: “This is something that the Congress-dominated local municipal committee should have taken care of. We gave corporation status for the town but they (the Congress) went to the court against it. You can see what kind of development they have done.” Sharma’s next stop is a roadside meeting on the Bhaki road. This done, Sharma moves ahead. A well-wisher in the car tells him: “Sir, you appear a bit stiff while meeting voters. Don’t forget here you are someone’s son or brother or uncle. So, act as such.” Sharma feels a little offended, but makes it a point to follow the instructions at his next stoppage. Fighting Congress’s candidate Raman Bhalla, the BJP chief says PCC rebel Ashok Sharma would eat into his (Bhalla’s) votes.
	Despite poll code, liquor flows freely in Ropar dist Sanjeev Singh Bariana Tribune News Service Ropar, January 23 Strict electoral laws notwithstanding, liquor continues to flow freely in all constituencies of the district with the holy towns of Anandpur Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib topping the list. Liquor sale is not allowed in the precincts of Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib, yet in these townships there have been several instances of liquor seizure since the announcement of the Vidhan Sabha elections. Representatives of different parties concede that the ground reality is even worse. At least 500 cases of a popular whiskey brand were confiscated near Morinda last week. The consignment was meant for a candidate of a national party in Chamkaur Sahib. The Excise department, District Transport Office and the police have registered separate cases in the matter. Satwant Kaur, a former MLA campaigning for her daughter-in-law Jagmeet Kaur of the Shiromani Akali Dal, said : “ We have lodged several complaints with the Returning Officer, but in vain.” District incharge of a national party, pleading anonymity, said: "To think of campaigning without liquor is inconceivable, at least in Punjab. The election office is very and the parties are left with no option but to make innovations, employing senior citizens and even women to carry liquor". The Excise Department has collected a fine of at least Rs 1.85 lakh on account of various seizures. Except for five instances of liquor being recovered from vehicles, the rest have been all from private residences. Seizures have also been made from residents of Ropar, Akbarpur and Dolowal villages, Paonta sahib and Samrala. Liquor seized Amritsar:The police today reportedly seized a large quantity of liquor from a rice mill-turned godown located on the Tarn Taran road here. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal, senior police officials, including Police Commissioner RP Mittal and Deputy Commissioner of Police Sat Pal Joshi, and an Excise team headed by Assistant Excise and Taxation officer reached the spot. However, legality and ownership of the liquor was yet to be ascertained and investigations were on. Sources said, over a dozen trucks loaded with various brands of liquor were found parked in the godown. On receiving information, supporters of Congress candidate Jasbir Singh Dimpa, led by his brother Rajan, and SAD rebel and Independent candidate Gurpartap Singh Tikka also reached the spot. While raising slogans, they claimed that the liquor belonged to SAD candidate Inderbir Singh Bolaria. However, the employees of the godown claimed that the liquor was legal and meant for the supply at various liquor vends in the city. They claimed to have all the requisite documents with them. Police Commissioner Mittal said that they were verifying the documents. He said that the godown owners had been called for questioning and further investigations were on.
	Valtoha banking on direct contact with his voters Jangveer Singh/TNS Khemkaran, January 23 This candidate is a people’s man. Most rickshaw drivers have his cell number and his opponents cringe at the direct connect he has established with the electorate. Former militant and SAD candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha has made his “direct connect” with the people a poll issue against Congress candidate and former minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar. Valtoha, a former AISSF leader who remained in jail at Jodhpur, Delhi and Amritsar for seven years, joined the SAD in 1993. Voters in Khemkaran say while Valtoha has been in the constituency for almost 10 months in a year, Bhullar has remained at Mohali. Devinder of Pahuwind village says Valtoha attends each and every call. “He does so even during electioneering. If he misses a call, be sure he will call you back”. “I have always responded to your calls,” Valtoha tells the people during campaigning. “My beard had only a few grey strands when I stood for elections last time. Now I have only a few black strands”, he says, provoking laughter. He has made Bhullar’s appearance a poll issue. “He is always wearing black glasses. Why doesn’t he meet the voter in the eye,” he asks. Valtoha says he cannot tolerate red tape and “ if I am ever aggressive, it is only for the sake of the people.” For all his popularity, Valtoha faces a challenge from within. Youth wing leader Bikram Majithia’s former loyalist Swaran Singh Dhun is the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) candidate from here. He is bound to cut into the Akali vote bank. It seems Valtoha will have to depend even more on “direct contact” to be successful at the hustings.
	Remark on Golden Temple by TV host flayed Ashok Tuteja/TNS New Delhi, January 23 India today took exception to the remark on the Golden Temple by American television host Jay Leno and asked its envoy to the US to immediately take up the issue with the authorities concerned. Leno, the host of The Tonight Show on NBC channel, flashed a picture of the Golden Temple in Amritsar on his programme and termed it as a possible summer home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao was being instructed to take up the matter with the US authorities.
	Campaign Diary No anti-incumbency wave: Jaitley Ludhiana: Arun Jaitley, leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, claimed here on Monday that the SAD-BJP alliance was set to return to power in the state as he saw no anti-incumbency wave in the state. “Our government had ushered in a golden period of social harmony and development in the state,” claimed Jaitley who attended election rallies in favour of SAD-BJP candidates. He announced that the BJP would releasing its election manifesto at Jalandhar tomorrow. He said over the years, the face of the SAD as well as the BJP had changed with SAD now fielding Hindu candidates and the BJP Sikh candidates. — Puneet Pal Singh Gill Cong undecided on CM, says Badal Rayya: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday said there was only contender for the CM's post in SAD whereas the Congress was finding it difficult to announce its chief ministerial candidate. Addressing a rally in support of SAD candidate from Baba Bakala Manjeet Singh Mianwind, Badal said, "The Congress has various contenders in the form of Capt Amarinder Singh, PS Bajwa, RK Bhattal and Preneet Kaur. But the party is yet to come clean as to who will be the CM if they come to power." — Perneet Singh Sukhbir campaigns for ex-DGP Gill Moga: Promising to carry forward the agrarian state on the path of development, Shiromani Akali Dal president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday appealed to the voters to repeat the mandate in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance. Sukhbir addressed public meetings at Nihalsinghwala, Baghapurana and Moga in favour of SAD candidates Rajwinder Kaur, Mahesh Inder Singh and former DGP Paramdeep Singh Singh Gill, respectively. Sukhbir alleged PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh was finding it hard to counter the development works done by the government. — Kulwinder Sandhu Teachers, not laptops, needed: Karat Amritsar: Launching an attack on the ruling SAD-BJP combine at Patti in Tarn Taran, CPM Politburo member Brinda Karat today said before announcing free laptops for the students, the SAD must ensure that government schools have teachers. Addressing a rally in support of Sanjha Morcha candidate from Patti Devinderjit Singh Dhillon, Karat said: “What would the students do with laptops when there are no teachers?” Maintaining the SAD-BJP alliance had failed to address the people’s problems, she said: “It has been raining ‘lathis’ on those fighting for their rights in Punjab since the last five years. The government has made no effort to address the people’s woes.” — Perneet Singh
	Poll Snippets Pro-Cong sarpanch beaten up Gurdaspur: A sarpanch owing loyalty to the Congress was brutally beaten up at Goth Pokhar village, 5 km from here, on Monday. Raman Bahl, Congress candidate from the Gurdaspur Vidhan Sabha seat who filed a complaint with the Election Commission, alleged that four SAD activists brutally beat up Harjinder Singh while he was motivating people to attend AICC president Sonia Gandhi's rally on Tuesday. Gurdaspur MLA GS Babbehali denied Bahl's allegations and said it was a case of personal vendetta. A case has been registered against Onkar Singh, Bachitar Singh, Sarwan Singh and Harbhajan Singh at the Tibber police station. — Ravi Dhaliwal EC suspends erring officials Chandigarh: The Election Commission has suspended or shifted several government officials for their involvement in political activities, said Special CEO Usha Sharma. Those suspended include Pradumman Singh (principal of ITI, Sunam), Gursharan Singh Khaira (XEN, PSEB), Gurpreet Singh (SHO, Kapurthala), Gurpal Singh (panchayat officer, Gandiwind, Tarn Taran) and Jagir Singh (teacher at Government High School, Behakbodala, Fazilka). Besides, Sukhdev Singh Bhatti, Commandant of 1st Battalion, Bahadurgarh, whose wife is contesting from Budhlada, has been shifted to Ludhiana while Harmanbir Singh, Commandant, 3rd IRB, Ludhiana, whose brother is a candidate, has been transferred in place of Bhatti. — TNS Women hail EC curbs on liquor Muktsar: Restriction imposed by the Election Commission on liquor distribution during poll days has come with a disappointing note for Bacchus lovers even though the women are happy. A visit to a number of villages found out that the women were full of praise for the election authorities for this "pro-family" step. They said, "The free distribution of liquor has always remained a trend to lure voters during elections. But this time, such a thing has not happened so far. Thanks to the Election Commission as men return home well in time after working in the fields." — Archit Watts Team Anna in Amritsar today Amritsar: Team Anna members, including Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, would be visiting the city on Tuesday to campaign against "corruption". Parmod Bali, member of the Amritsar chapter of India Against Corruption, an organisation supporting Anna Hazare, said, "The team will apprise the public of the goals that have to be achieved for eradicating corruption and social evils during campaigning for the polls. We will also highlight that ours is a non-political movement, with focus only on a strong Lokpal Bill. We are not favouring any political party or any individual candidate." — TNS Chautala busy in Lambi Beedowali (Lambi): At a time when Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is busy canvassing for his party candidates outside Lambi, his friend INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala is holding the campaign reins here. Chautala addresses 8-10 public meetings a day at Lambi. At a rally in Beedowali village, close to Badal village, on Monday, he asked the people to vote for the SAD, and that too in Punjabi. “Badal Sahib has performed better than all the Chief Ministers before him,” he claimed. — Archit Watts SAD-BJP poll campaign stickers found pasted on houses Patiala: Poll campaign stickers and flags of the SAD and the BJP were found pasted on the walls and gates of hundreds of houses in various colonies of the city. Residents of the colonies said that they would lodge a complaint with the appropriate authorities against such canvassing. As The Tribune team visited Delight Colony, Sewak Colony, Charan Bagh and Lehal Colony many houses had stickers pasted on their gates and walls that urged the residents to vote in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance. Numerous houses had small flags, forcibly fixed on the gates, bearing the SAD party symbol. “On Sunday morning, I saw the stickers pasted outside our wall and when I removed them, it spoiled the texture of the wall”, said Sunpreet Singh Sidhu, an advocate who resides in Delight Colony. Another house owner rued that two such posters outside his gate were pasted. Sources said that some local Akali supporters on Saturday night pasted these stickers, flags and posters in the entire area and met a few residents as well. District Election Officer and DC Vikas Garg could not be contacted. SAD candidate Surjit Singh Kohli’s, spokesperson said that they had not pasted the stickers. — Aman Sood