The Tribune – First Vidhan Sabha session on March 19

Sarbjit Dhaliwal, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 10. The first session of the newly elected Vidhan Sabha will begin on March 19. On the first day, oath will be administered to the MLAs. The next day, the legislators will elect the Speaker. After that, tributes will be paid to politicians and other persons who passed away in recent months.

It has already been announced that Parkash Singh Badal will take oath as Chief Minister on March 14 at Chappar Chiri. Following this, oath will be administered to cabinet ministers. In 2007, Badal had designated all ministers as cabinet ministers and no one was made minister of state or deputy minister. It was a single-tier cabinet. He is likely to follow the same pattern this time too.

The Punjab Governor will address the House on March 21. He would present the philosophy of the SAD-BJP government before the state people. What will be the agenda of the government for the next five years will be revealed in the address.

Following this, there will be a debate on the address and the Chief Minister will reply to the points raised in the debate on March 26.

Sources said each department had been told to prepare a note keeping in view the promises made in the election manifesto. In the Governor’s address, the government’s plan to fulfill the promises would be revealed. Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal has briefed all secretaries in this regard.

Villagers to attend Badal’s swearing-in

Muktsar: Apart from VIPs like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and National Democratic Alliance senior leadership, there would be a number of residents from SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal’s native village who would be attending his swearing-in at Chhapar Chiri on March 14.

On the occasion when Badal would become the CM for the fifth time, a large number of residents of Badal village would be taken to the venue in private vehicles. “We have invited all our supporters for ceremony. We have also made transport arrangements for those who do not own a car,” said Tejinder Singh Middukhera, a Badal aide.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120311/punjab.htm#3

The Tribune – Mandate 2012 Punjab; Youth brigade did it for Akalis, won 11 seats

Jangveer Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) secured the youth vote with 11 of its 13 candidates turning victorious at the hustings. In comparison, the Congress bagged only two of the six seats allotted to its youth members.

Six young Akali candidates won in the Majha belt – Youth SAD chief Bikram Majithia (Majitha), Inderbir Bolaria (Amritsar South), Amarpal Bonny (Ajnala), Manjit S Manna (Baba Bakala), Bajit S Jalalusma (Jandiala) and Harmeet Singh (Tarn Taran).

In the Doaba belt, Pawan Kumar Teenu was victorious from Adampur. In Malwa,Virender Kaur Loomba (Shutrana), Harpreet Singh (Malout), Parminder Dhindsa (Sunam) and Manpreet Ayali (Dakha) emerged winners.

Remarkably, most of the Youth SAD candidates won their seats with respectable margins. Several downed Congress stalwarts: Jalalusma defeated former Excise Minister Sardool Singh, Ayali defeated Jassi Khangura and Bolaria defeated Jasbir Singh Dimpa.

The Congress was able to win only two of the six seats allotted to its Youth Congress members – Kuljit Nagra from Fatehgarh Sahib and Raja Waring from Gidderabaha. The party’s young candidates were defeated in Ferozepur Rural, Payal, Balachaur and Majitha.

There seems to be two factors behind the success of young SAD candidates. One, most of them were groomed by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal during 2002-2007 when the SAD-BJP was in Opposition.

Second, Youth SAD president Bikram Majithia energised the youth wing holding district-level meetings and roadshows during the last one year. Majithia supervised the campaign of the youth wing leaders in Majha besides campaigning for those in Doaba and Malwa.

The Punjab Youth Congress could not be energised with its state president Vikramjit Chaudhary busy campaigning for his father Chaudhary Santokh in Phillaur.The Congress could not win this seat.

The SAD empowered its youth leaders with Parambans Romana appointed Improvement Trust Chairman in Faridkot, Kanwarjit Barkandi as District Cooperative Bank Chairman at Muktsar and Manpreet Ayali as Zila Parishad Chairman in Ludhiana. These appointments were a game changer for the SAD and ensured the youth vote did not shift to the PPP in a big way.

Game Changer: Factors behind success

Most of the young Akali candidates were groomed by SAD chief Sukhbir Badal during 2002-2007 when the SAD-BJP alliance was in the Opposition.

Bikram Majithia energised the Akali youth wing holding district-level meetings and several roadshows in the past one year.

SAD empowered its youth leaders with Parambans Romana appointed Improvement Trust chief in Faridkot, Kanwarjit Barkandi as District Coop Bank chief at Muktsar and Manpreet Ayali as Zila Parishad chief in Ludhiana. So the youth voted for the SAD.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120310/punjab.htm#2

The Tribune – Families with growing clout in politics

Prabhjot Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7. The 14th Vidhan Sabha will be an unusual conglomeration of major political families. A few families have not let go any opportunity to get either into Parliament or the state legislature or both, indicating the growing dynastic tendency in the body polity.

While seven families will be represented both in the Legislative Assembly and Parliament, four others just missed the bus.

The Five MP-MLA couples from Punjab are Sukhbir Badal and Harsimrat, Justice Nirmal Singh (retd) and Paramjit Kaur Gulshan (both SAD), Navjot Kaur Sidhu and Navjot Singh Sidhu (BJP), Amarinder Singh and Preneet Kaur and Charanjit Kaur Bajwa and Partap Singh Bajwa (both Cong).

Former Punjab Congress chief Mohinder Singh KP and Santosh Chaudhary, however, just missed joining this select band as their spouses Kusum and Ram Lubhaya were defeated at the hustings.

Two new members in the Vidhan Sabha – Amarpal Singh Bonny and Parminder Singh Dhindsa – have their fathers in Parliament. They are Rattan Singh Ajnala and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

Dilraj Singh Bhunder , son of Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Singh Bhunder, and Raninder Singh , son of Lok Sabha member Preneet Kaur, lost also lost the electoral battle.

Normally, senior members of the state legislature graduate to the national legislature, Parliament. In case of Punjab, it appears to be the other way round. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal have been MP.

Four former MPs, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Rana Gurjit Singh, Chatin Singh Samaon and Charanjit Singh Athwal, have preferred to return to the state legislature. But Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and Prem Singh Chandumajra (both SAD) have failed to do so.

The only father-son pair in the House will that be of Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir with Gurdas Singh Badal and Manpreet Singh biting the dust and Amarinder’s son also suffering a defeat. In the last House, besides the Badals, Chaudhary Swarna Ram (BJP) and Chaudhary Mohan Lal (SAD) were the other father-son duo.

While the Bains brothers – Balwinder Singh and Simarjit Singh – have created a record of sorts by becoming the first-ever pair of Independents in the House, the pair of Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and Chaudhary Santokh Singh represented the Congress in the 12th Vidhan Sabha. The brothers have lost this time.

This Vidhan Sabha will be well-represented by different sections of society- doctors, bureaucrats, sportsmen, artistes, liquor barons, realtors and transporters. The liquor barons are Amrik Singh Dhillon, Balbir Singh Sidhu and Deep Malhotra. Dr Daljit Singh Cheema (SAD) and Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu (BJP), first-time MLAs, are qualified allopaths. Mohammed Sadique, who defeated Darbara Singh Guru, former Principal Secretary to CM, is a renowned folk singer and perhaps the first one to get into Vidhan Sabha in recent years.

Pargat Singh is the first-ever hockey Olympian to be elected MLA in Punjab. Other than Pargat Singh, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi has been an international shooter.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120308/punjab.htm#3

The Hindu – Badal rules out ‘vendetta politics’

Badal Pita, Badal Putr

Chandigarh, 8 March 2012. Ruling out any scope for “petty vendetta politics,” Punjab’s 31st Chief Minister-elect Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday said the government would remain dedicated to fulfilling the aspirations of the people by accelerating the pace of development.   Mr. Badal was addressing a rally of Akali workers after paying obeisance at Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of the historic festival of Hola Mohalla, a party release said here.

He said the focus would be on pro-poor and development policies as well as completing the “unfinished tasks” of the previous tenure.

Mr. Badal announced extension of the free bicycle scheme to girl students of the 9th and 10th class, besides free education to all girl students up to post-graduation.

“Emotional bonding”

Later talking to reporters, Mr. Badal ruled out the possibility of any controversy over the number of BJP ministers in the Cabinet. He said the alliance was not merely political as both parties enjoyed an emotional bonding.

Responding to questions, he said the Congress paid the price for the unprecedented price rise, corruption and failure to provide security to the citizens.

Party president Sukhbir Singh swore to intensify the war against the drug trade and called upon the people to join hands with the government to remove the scourge.   He warned the Akali Dal-BJP workers against any complacency as the “historic” victory mandated heightened efforts to fulfil the aspirations of the electorate.

He said efforts would be made to improve infrastructure in villages and cities, and governance, besides strengthening systems to tackle corruption.

Record fifth time

Mr. Badal, 84, will be sworn in as Chief Minister on March 14 for a record fifth time. On Thursday, the newly elected legislators of the Shiromani Akali Dal unanimously chose him as the leader of the legislature party.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur memorial at Chhaparchiri in Ajitgarh (Mohali) district, about 20 km from here. Mr. Badal is expected to formally call on the Governor after Friday’s joint meeting of the newly elected MLAs of the SAD-Bharatiya Janata Party combine, which won 68 seats in the 117-member House.

The meeting is also expected to select a deputy chief minister. Some central leaders of the BJP are likely to participate.

For the third time in a row, the Akali Dal-BJP has chosen a venue outside the customary Raj Bhavan for the ceremony. In 1997 and 2007, the swearing-in was held in the world famous Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali.

Set up during Mr. Badal’s fourth tenure, the memorial is dedicated to the historic victory of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur over the Mughal governor of Sirhind in 1710.

A veteran leader, who has led various political movements, including the historic Akali struggle against Emergency, Mr. Badal held the Chief Minister’s post in 1970, 1977-80, 1997-2002 and 2007 till date. Though his political career began in 1947, Mr. Badal was first elected as MLA in 1957.

The meeting of the elected Akali legislators was held in Punjab Bhawan, government run guesthouse, where Mr. Sukhbir Singh proposed his father’s name as the leader. While unanimously agreeing to the proposal, the legislators showered liberal accolades on the party chief for chalking out a detailed strategy to decimate the Congress.

Thanking the people and the party for the historic victory and reposing confidence in him, Mr. Badal exhorted the new MLAs to collectively take a vow to ensure justice and contribute in the ongoing development process. Mr. Badal was of the view that in this election the secular image of the alliance had been strengthened, while more than two dozen new faces had received a chance to serve the public. He appreciated the smooth alliance with the BJP in the last five years and vowed to carry forward the policies that had received people’s approval. (PTI)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2973460.ece

Panjab Vidhan Sabha election 2012 : Vote share percentage and seats

Congress 40.11 % - 46 seat

SAD 34.75% – 56 seats BJP 7.13% – 12 seats

Independents – 3 seats

PPP 5.17% – 0 seats BSP 4.30% – 0 seats
CPI 0.82% – 0 seats CPI (M) 0.16 – 0 seats

Total 117 seats

The Tribune – 14 women make it to Panjab Assembly

Ruchika M Khanna, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 6. For the first time in the history of Assembly elections in Punjab, as many as 14 women candidates have made it to the Vidhan Sabha. They have surpassed the record of nine women members set in 1960 and 2002 Assembly elections.

In the last Assembly elections, only seven women candidates, out of the 55 who tested the political waters, had succeeded in winning the elections.

Though a majority of women in the fray were Independent candidates, none of them could manage to wrest a seat.

Six women candidates each from the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress have successfully contested this year’s elections. Also, two women candidates contesting on the BJP ticket have made it to the Assembly.

They include Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Lehra), Dr Navjot Sidhu (Amritsar East), Karan Kaur Brar (Muktsar) and Harchand Kaur (Mehal Kalan).

Punjab, known for its feudal mindset, has always been “unfair” to the fairer sex while sharing the political power. There have been times (1969 Assembly elections) when the Vidhan Sabha didn’t have even a single woman legislator.

But things seem to be changing now. These Assembly elections saw maximum number of women candidates joining the fray – a majority of them as Independent candidates.

As many as 93 women contested these elections. Of them, 68 contested as Independent candidates.

While the Congress fielded 11 women, the SAD gave tickets to 10 women and the BJP to three women candidates.

That the number of women voters in the state is now almost the same as male voters and that the women are no longer towing the family line while casting their ballot seem to have helped the women candidates in the fray. During these elections, as many as 66.14 lakh women exercised their franchise, as against 72.78 lakh men.

Though political parties had reposed faith in young blood and given tickets to some young leaders, only two of them won at the hustings.

While Amrinder Singh “Raja” Warring has logged a win from the Gidderbaha seat, Inderbir Singh Bolaria has made the cut from the Amritsar South seat.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120307/punjab.htm#12

The Tribune – Punjab voter turnout rises to 78.6%; EC orders repoll at one Amritsar booth

Kanchan Vasdev, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 31. The Election Commission today revised the voter turnout in yesterday’s Punjab Assembly election by 2% to 78.67% even as it ordered a repoll in booth number 76 of Amritsar (East) constituency.

The EC had till last evening put the estimated polling at 76.63%. Even today, Chief Election Officer Kusumjit Sidhu said the figures could change. “This is the average poll percentage and could be revised. The final polling percentage would be calculated on the basis of the total number of voters who exercised their franchise,” she said.

The repoll has been ordered for February 2 in a booth in the Amritsar (East) constituency. The fresh poll will be held between 7 am and 3 pm, the Election Commission said.

The decision for repoll was taken after the Electronic Voting Machine at booth number 76 developed a snag during mock testing. Sidhu said the EVM was repaired but by afternoon it stopped recording votes and was replaced with a new EVM.

“We do not want to take any chances and have ordered a repoll,” she said. There are 974 registered voters at the booth.

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu’s wife Dr Navjot Kaur is the BJP candidate from Amritsar (East) constituency. She is pitted against Sunil Datti of the Congress. Congress rebel Simarpreet Bhatia is also in fray as an Independent.

Even though the polling percentage has risen, Amritsar (West) remains the constituency with the lowest voter turnout of 57.59%. Till yesterday, this figure stood at 56%. Guruharsahai has reported the highest turnout of 89.88% followed by Gidderbaha with 88.73%.

The Election Commission has instructed various stationary surveillance teams and flying squads of the Income Tax and Excise Departments constituted for the elections to be disbanded, except in Amritsar (East) constituency. Liquor will be prohibited within the polling area of polling booth number 76 from 5 pm today till polling ends on February 2.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120201/main4.htm

The Tribune – 1,000 voters ‘reject’ all candidates

Kanchan Vasdev, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 31. Over 1,000 voters across the state rejected all the candidates in the fray by using Section 49-O of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which allows electors to register their vote without casting it in favour of any candidate during the Punjab Assembly polls yesterday.

While the State Election Commission is yet to compile the data of the total number of voters who exercised this option, a Punjab based NGO Internationalist Democratic Party puts the number of such voters at 500 in Nabha alone.

The NGO led by Gurmeet Singh Sohi had started an awareness campaign all over the state motivating the voters to use their right to reject candidates, if they were not convinced about their capabilities and performance.

A spokesperson of the NGO said voters from Fazilka, Mansa, Bathinda, Sangrur, Sunam, Samana, Garhshankar and Kapurthala, exercised this option. In Ageti village in Nabha, over 50 residents rejected all the candidates. Similar reports were obtained from Narata Colony, Ajaib Colony, Sant Nagar, Ekta Colony and Vishwakarma Nagar in Nabha, claimed the spokesperson.

“There is a growing resentment against the candidates among the voters in Punjab. During discussions, a common sentiment that came to our notice was that voters do not want to elect any candidate. We advised them to use this option and we got a good response,” said Sohi.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120201/punjab.htm#8

The Hindu – Record voter turnout in Punjab

Sarabjit Pandher

One person dies in group clash in Ferozepur Rural constituency   Barring a few incidents, the single-phase polling for the 117-member Punjab Assembly on Monday remained peaceful as initial estimates indicated a record turnout, which is likely to surpass the 75.45 per cent registered in 2007. When reports last came in, one person was killed and nine cases of poll-related violence were registered.

Talking to journalists, Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu said one person died of bullet injuries when rival groups clashed in the Ferozepur Rural constituency. An old woman suddenly collapsed and died inside a polling station of the Anandpur Sahib constituency.

Thanking the people and those involved in the process for the smooth conduct of the elections, Ms. Sidhu said the final turnout figures would be compiled after the returning officers sent the reports from the constituencies separately. The commission had not ordered repoll anywhere across the State.

Polling across the State began at a brisk pace and there was no let up throughout the day. She said long queues were reported at polling stations after 5 p.m.

Journalist manhandled

A woman journalist of a leading Punjabi daily was manhandled in Nabha, while a scribe was allegedly slapped by Akali Dal legislator Amarpal Singh Bony in Ajnala. The police registered cases in both incidents.

The authorities replaced 70 malfunctioning electronic voting machines, though early reports said an attempt was made to tamper with a machine in Mansa district.

There were interesting reports of people using the 49-O facility to reject all the candidates in their constituencies. At Garhshankar in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, as many as 80 citizens of a locality opted for the facility to voice their resentment against apathy by the authorities in providing basic civic amenities since Independence.

Ms. Sidhu said six television channels — Aaj Tak, Star News, Zee News, PTC, Times Now and NDTV — along with three newspapers — Ajit, Dainik Jagran and Jagbani — were issued notice for violating code of conduct on poll day.

On a complaint, the media monitoring committee scanned the content of the PTC coverage and found that the channel had interviewed more Akali Dal-BJP leaders than Opposition leaders. However, a final decision would be taken by the Election Commission, she said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2845575.ece

The Tribune – Punjabi tadka to political curry

Saurabh Malik, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 29. Politicians coming to Punjab are spicing up the poll campaigning by adding wee bit of local flavour to it. That’s right! The national level political figureheads, finding their way into Punjab just before the elections, have come out with a perfect recipe for successful poll campaigning. They are topping up the poll preparations with some ‘karak’ Punjabi ‘tadka’.

Just in case you still don’t know what’s cooking, go to one of the election rallies. You will find political icons offering a taste of Punjab through their attire, speeches and even songs before the commencement of the rallies.

Be it Dr Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Hema Malini or even Mayawati, the success mantra is “When in Punjab, do as Punjabis do”.

No wonder, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Amritsar launched a scathing attack on Parkash Singh Badal-led government in Punjabi. Watching the Prime Minister deliver his nearly 35-minute speech in chaste Punjabi, everyone in the crowd could associate himself with him.

For so many others, it is more than striking the right cord with the audience by interacting with them in their language; it’s all about telling people strategically they are one of them by tying turbans and wearing salwar-kameez.

Sonia Gandhi wrapped herself in the hues of Punjab by wearing a salwar-kameez at the Kapurthala rally on January 19, after relegating her customary sarees to the closet.

Hema Malini also played her role of a star campaigner for Punjab dexterously by donning a salwar-kameez at a Ludhiana rally.

In a long ‘kurta’ teamed with a pink dupatta, Hema started her speech with “Sat Sri Akal”. Her speech also referred to the oft-quoted title of Sher-e-Punjab as she talked about her actor hubby.

Rahul Gandhi too slipped into the shoes of Punjab da puttar. Putting on his thinking cap, the AICC general secretary turned into a turbanator at the Tarn Taran rally. He adjusted himself with the audience by adjusting his turban gracefully.

UPites may love listening to their own songs on headphones attached to mobile phones, while cycling their way to work.

But when it comes to Mayawati and her rallies in Punjab, nothing less than bhangra beats suffice. It was bhangra pop at Mayawati’s rally in Kharar as high-wattage speakers blared out hit Punjabi songs before her arrival at the venue.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120130/punjab.htm#1