Chandigarh Confidential; Take-off stalled

Double crossed

A senior bureaucrat,who is on deputation to the Union government from the state,was told that he will be the next chief secretary if the Congress came to power. He had not only made lists of transfers and other works to be taken up but was also in regular contact with Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh. Now,in view of these unexpected results,he tried to change his camp to ensure that he is still considered for the top job. He tried to contact SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal over phone and otherwise but to no avail. His calls were not taken and the messages he had send went unheard. Similarly,two IAS officers — related to each other — who had also apparently met Amarinder in Patiala are now squirming in their seats. Another IAS officer who met the Captain in a function in Patiala is also expecting to be transferred.

Seeking new Pandits now

Our bureaucrats,the “cream of the country,are a highly superstitious lot. In the run-up to the elections,babus were busy seeking the advice of astrologers and sooth-sayers to know which way would the pendulum swing. All the pandits firmly put their stamp on Amarinder,so many bureaucrats thought they knew beforehand which side was the bread buttered. The predictions have been proved wrong,but what stays constant is the belief that the babus place in pandits and the like. Now,they are finding new ones who can be trusted.

Firing squad

Some deputy commissioners and SSPs are likely to be on the firing line of the new SAD-BJP government in Punjab. The reason: They did not listen to the political bosses during the elections. This they did perhaps because the Election Commission was keeping a watch on them and moreover,they did not anticipate that the ruling alliance will return to power. Now,expecting that they will be shifted out,they are using all the channels available to them to say sorry to their political masters.

Congress’ bed of thorns

How electoral fortunes can change equations. What was till a week ago the most coveted post in Punjab,is now the most unenviable. Even as murmurs of anguish and anger are getting louder in the Congress — with some detractors of party chief Captain Amarinder Singh quietly fuelling a revolt among MLAs who lost and those who won — none is too willing to take up the top job. It would be a tough call — reviving the morale of the cadres and taking on the resurgent Akalis. Even as Amarinder himself is forced to stand up by close aides,who fear going into political wilderness,he knows five years is a long long time.

Facebook loss

A Congress MLA had put on his Facebook profile live updates of Assembly election results,as he expected the party to win comfortably. There was also a provision that people can post their feedback in the profile. But as the results were announced,the MLA not only forgot to update his website but himself lost.

Would be to not to be

As the Punjab Assembly election results trickled in,the three would be advocate generals,loyalists of Congress,were paid commiserations by their supporters. While two were present in the high court contesting cases,the third — a young turk who had claimed that he has been offered the coveted advocate generalship by the Congress — was nowhere to be seen. “Well wishers” were seen calling to inquire about the whereabouts of the third. Betting is already on as to whether the incumbent advocate general will continue or be replaced. The question: if replaced,who will be the next?

First-timer corrected

INLD legislator Sher Singh Badshami was put in a tight corner by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on the concluding day of the Vidhan Sabha’s budget session. Speaker Kuldeep Sharma “named” a few INLD legislators and ordered that those named be sent of the House. At this,the marshals entered the House. Objecting to this,Badshami said: “I haven’t seen this ever in the House.” To this,Hooda remarked: “Badshami ji,yeh to aapka vaise hi pehla mauka hai sadan mein; jab hum aapki jagah pe the,to yeh roj hi hota tha (As such this is your first time in the House,and when we were on your side (Opposition),it was a routine affair)”. Later,while he was speaking on an issue,Badshami’s cellphone didn’t stop ringing. Worse,he could not switch it off. Eventually,he passed it to a fellow legislator and asked him to throw it outside.

Tail piece

As votes were being counted and Manpreet Badal-led People’s Party of Punjab was behind in all constituencies,villagers remarked that PPP stands for “Pichhe Pichhe Pichhe” — always behind.