Sanjha Morcha

PUNJAB POLITICS CONTI…….After 32 years, nominations near 2,000-mark in Punjab

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

Call it an enthusiasm to contest or just a fallout of the entry of a new political party, but it is after a long gap of 32 years that the number of nominations filed by candidates for the 117 Punjab Assembly seats has almost touched the 2,000-mark.Also, the number of nominations filed for the 2017 Assembly elections has increased by 200 compared to 2012, when 1,731 candidates had filed nominations.A total of 1,941 candidates have filed papers this time. Today was the last day to file nominations.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)It was way back in 1985 that 2,175 candidates had filed nominations despite the fact that militancy was at its peak and the state had gone to hustings after President’s rule. But only 875 were left in fray after withdrawal of candidature and scrutiny of papers then.The number of candidates who will remain in the contest will drop after the scrutiny of nominations on Thursday and withdrawal of candidature by Saturday (January 21). “An increase in the number of nominations was expected due to entry of AAP. The new party has not only fielded candidates in all segments, its entry has also persuaded a lot many small and splinter groups to jump into elections,” said a senior electoral officer.

In ‘brush’, AAP sees ‘danger’ to broom

  • Chandigarh: After “torch” and “ladyfinger”, it’s now “toothbrush” in which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sees a threat to its “broom”. In a request to the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab, the party has sought that the “toothbrush” be removed from the list of election symbols meant for Independent candidates as it was “deceptive” and too similar to its own party symbol. Senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha pleaded, “The symbol is similar to AAP’s broom and may create confusion in the minds of innocent voters.” During the Delhi Assembly elections in January last year, AAP had demanded that the symbol of “torch” be delisted. The EC retained the “torch” but without the beam. TNS

Which way the wind is blowing in the Malwa region

The Tribune correspondent hops on to a bus and traverses the Malwa to feel the pulse of the common man as election is just three weeks away

Which way the wind is blowing in the Malwa region
CM Parkash Singh Badal addresses a gathering at Bodiwal village in Lambi. Tribune photo: Vishav Bharti

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

As the private bus moves at 70 km an hour on a chilly morning on National Highway-95, flex boards carrying political posters are the only reminder that the Punjab Assembly poll is just three weeks away. Inside the bus, hardly anyone discusses politics.As the conductor blows the whistle and the bus is about to leave Samrala, a man sporting an Akali-blue turban boards the bus and takes the seat behind me. He is carrying a sheaf of papers. We soon strike a conversation and the topic changes to election. He says for four generations they have voted only for “babe di takdi”.

Mohan Singh, a small farmer from Sherpur Bet in Samrala, says but this time it will be different. He shuffles his papers saying he is on his way to Ludhiana to see a lawyer. “My relatives, in connivance with local Akali leaders, have taken away my land,” he says, adding that like many others in his village he will support the Aam Aadmi Party. “Ehna (Akalis) ne jo gundagardi keeti hai, ehna nu taan kise dargah te vi maafi ni milni.”At Ludhiana, as the conductor looks for passengers for Barnala, a plump man, who seems in his 30s, takes the seat beside me. He says he is not interested in election. “I won’t vote this time. Earlier, I had hope from jharuwalas, but their candidates are no different,” he says as he puts his earplugs on.Meanwhile, a few vendors move in the aisle shouting their wares as the bus heads towards the sandy dunes of the Malwa.Located right on the Bathinda-Fazilka highway, a gathering—outnumbered by policemen—is waiting for Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Bodiwala village in Lambi constituency. “Ki-ki siftan kariye Badal sarkaar diyan,” a dhadi jatha is trying to hold the gathering.Before moving on to another village, Badal says, “I am not interested in becoming CM. Mera path-pooja karan da time hai. Bande nu agge ja ke vi hisab dena hunda hai. I had told my party to relieve me, but they refused. When a cart gets stuck, it needs a strong ox to pull it out. The party said the cart could not move without me.”On National Highway-64, just before the roadways bus leaves Barnala for Sangrur, a posse of policemen boards it. The young conductor does not ask them for tickets, nor do they care to tell him their destination. A young constable from Sunam, who joined police six years back, says they are returning from Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s security duty at Barnala. “We started at 4 am,” he says, adding, “I want the Congress to return to power for then we would be less frequently deployed on the road as the ‘maharaja’ doesn’t travel much.” With a wry smile, he says police personnel generally favour the Congress.From Sangrur, as the ‘AC’ bus of Punjab Roadways starts for Chandigarh, a man unhappy with its dilapidated condition takes a jibe at the driver asking him to close the door or the ‘AC’ would be ineffective, leaving the passengers within earshot in splits.The second-last seat in the bus is occupied by one Parminder Singh, the son of a labourer and a fresh graduate from Faridkot’s Government Brijindra College, who is visiting a relative in Patiala. A bit shy, he says he has so far voted only once–in the 2014 election. He wants the new government to provide jobs and health care.Despite it being in bad shape, the bus runs smoothly on the newly laid-out road, the very road which Sukhbir Badal had once referred to as “bomb-proof”. When pointed out that the new road means development, the youth says the roads have been laid out for the Badals’ buses to ply on.The continuous din of conductors’ whistles and shouts besides sundry other noises at the Patiala bus stand once again remind you of the noisy election scene in the days to come.At the Chandigarh counter, a Punjab Roadways bus full of passengers is flanked by two brand new white Mercedes Benz luxury buses of Taj Travels, a company owned by the Badals. The conductor of the luxury bus is looking for passengers to Chandigarh. With a half-empty bus, it seems he is groping in the dark.

Poll effect: Akalis lose security cover

1,200 gunmen, 28 escort vehicles withdrawn

Poll effect: Akalis lose security cover

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

On the directions of the Election Commission, the Punjab Police have withdrawn the alleged unauthorised security cover given to Punjab ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, former SAD MLAs, several “VIP” halqa in-charges, district presidents besides youth Akali leaders. A reality check of over 300 VVIPs, mainly political leaders and their supporters by the Election Commission, found that improper security had been given to many of them.The commission found that the security cover, which had over the years become a status symbol, was beyond the entitlement but the VVIPs had been getting it for several years. The police had not withdrawn it despite the demands by the Opposition.Around 1,200 police guards given to the VVIPs have been withdrawn. Along with it, 28 escort vehicles have been taken back.Among those affected are 24 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, who had security cover of 18 security guards equivalent to the status of a minister. The EC has authorised them to have four guards only, as per the limit fixed for a member of the Legislative Assembly. Also, a number of youth Akali leaders, some of whom even had up to 20 gunmen, have lost the special cover.Dyal Singh Kolianwali, Muktsar SAD president, had 20 gunmen out of which 10 have been withdrawn now.Former MLAs Sucha Singh Langah, Sewa Singh Sekhwan and some others too have lost their security cover. SOI leaders, too, have to shed their excess cover.However, police sources said no change had been made in the security cover of CM Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal. Both leaders fall in the ‘Z-plus’ security and have faced attacks in last few days.The EC has also reviewed the security of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, who is the party’s top campaigner in the state. Apart from the security given to him as the CM, he will have a dedicated escort vehicle of the Punjab Police or a paramilitary force.ADGP VK Bhawra, who is Nodal Officer of the Election Commission, said the security was withdrawn after a proper review.

Badals untouched

  • Police sources said no change had been made in the security cover of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal. The two leaders fall in the ‘Z-plus’ security and have faced attacks in last few days.

Cong puts up united face, Bittu files papers

Cong puts up united face, Bittu files papers
Congress’ Jalalabad candidate and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu submits papers on Wednesday. Tribune photo

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, January 18

Ludhiana Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu filed nomination papers from the Jalalabad constituency here today. The Congress has pitted the grandson of late Chief Minister Beant Singh against SAD president Sukhbir Badal and AAP MP Bhagwant Mann.The Congress put up a united face at the time of filing of papers as several ticket aspirants were also present.Bittu said the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib was a slur on the Punjab government. He alleged that SAD-BJP combine had plunged Punjab’s youth into the well of drugs and the Congress would eradicate the menace in four weeks if its government came to power.Bittu is worth Rs 4.5 croreAccording to the affidavit filed by Bittu, he owns moveable and immoveable property worth Rs4.5 crore. An agriculturist, Bittu is the owner of 17 acres of agriculture land and residential plots in Mohali and Ludhiana. He also possesses a pistol.

Capt says contesting Lambi to rout Badals

Capt says contesting Lambi to rout Badals
Capt Amarinder Singh files his nomination from the Lambi segment in Malout on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Pawan sharma

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi, January 18

Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today filed his nomination from Lambi. Termed it as father of all battles, he said: “I will defeat Badal for sure, I am here to beat him.” When asked which seat he would retain if wins both Patiala and Lambi, he said: “I will announce it after the results.”He later held a roadshow from Malout to Lambi. During his halts on the way, he said: “I will teach Badal a lesson for all atrocities unleashed on the people of the state during the last 10 years and set an example for all future CMs.”Amarinder yesterday filed his nomination from Patiala and exhorted the people there to take care of his home town while he took on Badal.At a rally at Lambi village, Amarinder announced that neither Badal nor his kin would be spared for their “wrongdoings” and for bringing the state to such a “pathetic” situation.He also held the Badals responsible for the sacrilege incidents. “We will probe all sacrilege cases and send Badals to jail. Even the ‘Akal Purkh’ will not forgive them for these incidents and his whole family will be wiped out from the state’s political scene,” he claimed.Taking a dig at AAP, Amarinder asked the public that would comedians like Bhagwant Mann and Gurpreet Ghuggi and shoe-thrower Jarnail be able to run the government. “Are they going to run the government by cracking jokes and by throwing shoes at their opponents,” he asked.

Sidhu meets ’04 rival before nomination

Sidhu meets ’04 rival before nomination
Congress’ Amritsar East nominee Navjot Sidhu with veteran leader RL Bhatia, whom he had defeated in 2004 LS poll. Photo: Vishal Kumar

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 18

Former cricketer and BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu today filed his nomination papers for the Amritsar East Assembly seat. Prior to the filing of nomination, Sidhu went to see veteran Congress leader and five-time Amritsar MP Raghunandan Lal Bhatia to seek his blessings. Sidhu had opened his political innings by defeating Bhatia in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections by a margin of around 1 lakh votes. Sidhu said, “Bhatia Saheb is like a father figure. I am here to seek his blessings,” he said. While showering his best wishes on Sidhu, Bhatia said, “Sidhu’s entry will strengthen the Congress. He deserves ‘due honour’ in the party. He will play a vital role in the Punjab politics,” he said. On “anticipated” friction between PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh and Sidhu, he said, “All differences between them would be buried at the party level.” Later, Sidhu reached the office of the Returning Officer along with his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu and other supporters. He also declared his assets while submitting papers. Sidhu has a total income of Rs 9.66 crore as per his 2015-2016 income tax return. His wife’s income was shown as Rs 24.71 lakh during the same period. His immovable and movable assets are valued at Rs 40 crore. He owns immovable properties worth Rs 34.75 crore, including his palatial house in the holy city having a market value of Rs 28.5 crore, besides commercial and residential property in Patiala. 

Manpreet challenge looms, MP pitches in for Singla

Manpreet challenge looms, MP pitches in for Singla
SAD candidate and sitting MLA from Bathinda (Urban) Sarup Chand Singla during his door-to-door campaign on Wednesday. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 18

Old memories of bitter family feuds getting ever more intense during the elections have come alive with Union Minister of Food Processing and Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal taking command of fighting election at the Bathinda (Urban) seat against her brother in-law and Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal.She has held many poll gatherings with SAD candidate Sarup Chand Singla and instructed party workers about the election strategy.Harsimrat Badal held a meeting with Sarup Chand Singla yesterday and instructed the latter to bring back party rebels who have joined the Congress.She said if rebels were not ready to return then, at least, they could be pursued not to seek votes for the Congress candidate.In the last 15 days, many SAD-BJP leaders have left the party and joined the Congress.These leaders include senior SAD leader Pirthipal Singh Jalal, former Municipal Council president Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, SAD district vice-president Chamkaur Mann, SAD circle president Ashwanu Bunty, SAD councillor Sukhwinder Kaur, BJP councillor Priyanka Goyal and former councillor Darshan Garg.A close aide of Singla, Beopar Mandal president Rajinder Raju, Artiya Association president Satish Babbu, contractor Harish Garg and Mohinder Narula have also joined the Congress.Recently, Harsimrat Badal held a meeting with SAD-BJP cocunillors and listened to their grievances.Councillors raised various issues plaguing the party and alliance, including the issue of leaders being ignored.

Former AAP leader to prop up Congress campaign

Former AAP leader to prop up Congress campaign
Women’s wing vice-president of the Congress and former AAP leader Simrat Kaur Dhaliwal addresses the media in Bathinda on Wednesday. Photo: Vijay Kumar

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 18

Former AAP leader Simrat Kaur Dhaliwal today claimed that she would help the Congress to win Assembly elections at all seats.She joined the Congress as women’s wing vice-president on January 13 in the presence of Captain Amarinder Singh.She has levelled allegations against AAP over deviating from its basic principles on ticket distribution and giving tickets to people with criminal record.She said tickets were sold by AAP to many candidates and she herself was asked by some senior-most leaders to pay Rs 50 lakh to get the ticket.She threatened to reveal the names of such people, along with proofs, soon.“The wrong distribution of tickets by the party that could not remain firm on its principles and selling of tickets to people proved corruption within the party. Due to this, I have joined congress for the better future of the state,” said Simrat Kaur.“I was the vice-president of the party’s women’s wing. I spent a large amount on serving the party and forming its structure in Punjab. Sucha Singh Chhotepur was thrown out without any fault following a deep-rooted conspiracy by Arvind Kejriwal. I submitted my resign to AAP Punjab convener Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi on January 12 and joined the Congress on January 13,” she added.

Kharar constituency: Issues that matter

 

 

SAD leaders join Congress at Jagraon

Our Correspondent

Jagraon, January 18

The election campaign of Congress candidate from Jagraon constituency Malkiat Singh Dhaka gained a momentum today when several SAD leaders, including two municipal councillors of the Jagraon MC, and members of five panchayats joined the Congress.The leaders who joined the Congress included municipal councillor from Ward No. 1 Gurpreet Kaur Tatla, councillor from Ward No. 11 Dr Iqbal Singh, and Block Samiti member Davinder Singh. Besides, the panchayats members of Galib Kalan, Galib Khurd, Galib Ran Singh, Kothe Baggu and Kothe Jeeva also joined the Congress.Congress leader Karan Singh Galib played a key role in their joining. Malkiat Singh Dhaka thanked Galib and welcomed those joining the party. Galib also inaugurated the election office of Malkiat Singh Dhaka on the Raikot Road, Jagraon.Billa files papers as independentAvtar Singh Billa, Congress ticket aspirant from Jagraon, on Wednesday filed nomination papers as an independent candidate. Billa was accompanied by his close aides, Vicky Rana and Thekedar Pappu, on the occasion. Billa was aspiring for Congress ticket from Jagraon constituency but after the party decided to field former minister Malkiat Singh Dhaka from Jagraon, Billa decided to contest the poll as an independent. “The Congress has awarded the party ticket to an outsider and people of Jagraon would never accept an outsider as their leader. I decided to contest as independent after consulting my supporters,” said Billa after filing his papers.

Will cook Badal’s goose in his backyard: Capt

IN CM’S BASTION, CAPT TERMS CONTEST GRANDFATHER OF ALL BATTLES; DUBS BADAL AS ‘CONSPIRATOR’ BEHIND SACRILEGE

LAMBI (MUKTSAR): Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday filed his nomination papers from Lambi constituency, challenging chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in his bastion.

SANJEEV KUMAR/HTPunjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh filing his papers in Lambi in Muktsar on Wednesday.

Amarinder, who is also contesting his traditional Patiala seat, filed papers at Malout. Muktsar district Congress president Gurmeet Singh Khudian, who was a strong contender for the Lambi ticket, filed the papers as Capt’s covering candidate. The Congress chief later led his cavalcade of more than 100 vehicles to Lambi for a ‘show of strength’ rally, where he vowed to “cook Parkash Singh Badal’s goose in his own backyard” and “wipe him out” from Punjab’s political scene. He termed the contest as ‘grandfather of all battles’.

He also dubbed Badal as a “conspirator” behind the incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib last year. “Ae saara kujh hi isne aap karaya hai. (He got it all done himself),” he added, promising arrest of the culprits. He also assured people that the Behbal Kalan police firing case would be taken to its logical end and the guilty cops would be prosecuted. Two young protesters had died in the firing during the public protests against sacrilege incidents.

AAP candidate in Lambi Jarnail Singh has been making similar accusations against Badal. The CM has so far skipped the sacrilege issue in his campaign, while blaming the Congress for Operation Bluestar and the 1984 riots. Capt also said he will put Badal’s associate and SGPC members Dyal Singh Kolianwali behind the bars after coming to power. In the past, Kolianwali has been accused of being involved in election violence and corrupt practices.

Capt my leader, will be his soldier: Sidhu

Amritsar: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who filed his nomination papers as a Congress candidate from the Amritsar (East) assembly segment on Wednesday, said he would work as a soldier of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Captain Amarinder Singh.

GURPREET SINGH/HTAmritsar East Congress candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu filing his nomination papers on Wednesday.

Terming Amarinder Singh as his leader, Sidhu said, “We want that this time Congress forms a Government in Punjab and Captain Saab leads us. I will work as soldier of Capt. Amarinder Singh.”

He said he was not here for personal battles but to revive the state that was in a shambles. He said things have come to such a pass in Punjab that the government of people has become a onefamily regime.

Addressing mediapersons after filing his nomination papers, Sidhu said, “To change things, one has to come into the system. In Punjab, only one family is having 23 ministerial portfolios in the government and this has to be changed.”

He said he will announce his agenda for Punjab on January 20.