Chandigarh confidential

Poach-safe

They are unusual allies in a similar war. People’s Party of Punjab president Manpreet Badal has found a friend in Haryana Janhit Congress chief Kuldeep Bishnoi. Manpreet is not losing sleep over possible poaching of his MLAs by the Congress or Akalis not so much out of their loyalty but for the Bishnoi effect. “The case of HJC MLAs defecting to Congress is being heard at the Supreme Court. The defector MLAs have already been announced as unattached by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Under these circumstance,no MLA of PPP will risk defecting,thanks to Bishnoi,” a close aide of Manpreet said. It is fear of personal setback – winning at least one of two seats from Gidderbaha and Maur — that seems to be playing more on this Badal’s mind.

Fever-ish wait

It’s tough times for some senior (read old) leaders of the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal as they wait for elections results to be declared on March 6. Government doctors have been visiting these leaders at their houses ‘unofficially’ and taking their blood pressure readings. Reason: the stress levels have gone up in anticipation of the results. “Every evening the doctor visits me,thanks to the personal rapport I have with him,” a senior leader said. Most leaders have been seen visiting the religious places. A BJP leader prays every day at the Shiva temple at his house for his wife’s victory.

Out of favour

Two officials who used to be in the inner circle of SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal,found themselves cold shouldered owing to some differences after the January 30 polls. Now,both of them regularly interact with others to know about the happenings in the corridors of power. After gathering information they try to please their boss by telling him the latest buzz. But the ‘survival tactics’,it seems,can’t save them as they have already been show the door to the way out.

For old times’ sake

A well-connected and former close aide of Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh wanted to meet him in Chandigarh in Sector 10 but the security personnel refused to allow him inside. He argued and even threatened them but in vain. He finally dialled Amarinder’s number and was let in. He tried to stay put after spending a few minutes with his boss,but was told to leave. He had his drink and left the place,trying to keep his head high.

Test drive

Haryana government’s claim of having well-planned and ‘marvellous’ roads hasn’t gone down well with Bishan Lal Saini,the INLD legislator. Saini recently cornered Haryana’s Public Works Department minister,Randeep Singh Surjewala,and invited him to take a trip on roads in Yamunanagar to check the ground reality. “I invite Randeepji to come to Yamunanagar. As Randeep loves to wear white kurta-pyjama,he should wear the same that day and I will give him a list of 400 roads,out of which he could pick any four. He should travel on those roads with the windows of his car rolled down. After half an hour even his wife would not recognise him. It is difficult to find roads in the potholes and trenches in Yamunanagar. Out of four bridges,which one can use to enter Yamunanagar city,three are broken. And Haryana leaders,when they visit other states,invite people to come and check the roads in Haryana,” Saini said in the House.

Too many,too less

In its enthusiasm to create history by assisting the court in deciding over 150 cases in a day,the office of Advocate General,Punjab,has deputed 22 law officers in one court. While the battery of law officers were present in one court after 11 am to offer assistance,there was no law officer to assist other Benches. This ‘over enthusiasm’ earned them a flak from the court of Justice Rajan Gupta. The Bench passed an order directing the Chief Secretary and Advocate General,Punjab to “deliberate” and apprise the court of the steps taken within two weeks. The Punjab Advocate General office had suggested the idea to the HC for quick disposal of cases by listing cases of one category on a given day for adjudication by a single bench.