Captain scores more goals in poll game

Shingara Ram,who represented Garhshankar for two consecutive terms,said he was thrown out of the party by BSP supremo Mayawati for opposing her for not letting late Kanshi Ram’s mother meet him at the hospital. While he hinted at the likelihood of more senior leaders from other parties joining the Congress,Amarinder said he is not promising tickets to the dissidents.

“They are all offering support unconditionally,as the decision on party tickets rests with party president,Sonia Gandhi,” he said.

Though the economy is to remain his main poll plank,Amarinder denied that the issue of Punjab’s debt was discussed at the recently-concluded plenary session of the Congress.

“We just got a 15-minute photo-op with the AICC President so the issue of waiver was not discussed. Nevertheless,the issue remains important as the government is borrowing mindlessly and Punjab’s debt would reach Rs 80,000 crore by the time they (SAD) go out of power. We are going to move a privilege motion against the chief minister for his endorsing the misinformation given by former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on the debt waiver issue. The Union expenditure secretary only convened one preliminary meeting of three states,Punjab,Kerala and West Bengal,and there was no concrete offer,” he claimed.

Captain’s coffee & hugs with Bhattal

Capt Amarinder seems to be wooing ‘dissidents’ from both within Congress and outside with ease. On his new-found bonhomie with Congress Legislative Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal,he quipped,“Asi coffee te japhia dono pa liya ne (we have had coffee and exchanged hugs).”

‘Shun politics at melas’

With the upcoming Maghi and Jor mela witnessing hectic political arrangements in the state,Capt Amarinder said Akalis should stop using religious functions and venues for politics.

Channi’s,not Bittu’s,day

As Channi’s supporters filled in the lawns of Congress Bhawan,youth Congress president Ravneet Singh Bittu’s men could not put up their own show. His supporters tried to make themselves seen and heard as Bittu made his entry into the venue but it was clearly Channi’s day as nothing could be heard amid the din and slogan-shouting of his young supporters.