SAD gained strength, Capt stature

The SAD gained in strength, first with its resounding record victory in the civic polls, notwithstanding allegations of rigging, and then for its promises on development, including the trendsetting Rs 1.5-crore compensation to farmers for the upcoming international airport at Mohali.

Indian School of Business ISB announced its second post-graduate management set-up in Mohali this year. On the political front, Amarinder8217;s expulsion, the first in the history of the state Assembly, hogged the limelight for long. His bitter equation with the ruling combine notwithstanding, Amarinder bounced back to prove that he was still in the reckoning and certainly not out of favour with the Congress high command, as being dubbed by his opponents.

He was put back in the saddle as chairman of the election campaign committee. Amarinder8217;s resurgence came at a time when his bete noire and leader of Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was unseated as the Punjab Congress president. The trademark Bhattal- Amarinder verbal onslaught, which got bitter with the day, left the party a divided house.

Amidst speculation of SAD president Sukhbir Badal taking over as the CM, he strengthened his grip on the party and revamped its structure by making it an all-caste composition. His decision to get baptised, without much noise, also silenced many of his critics. The Akali Dal8217;s initiative on foeticide was given a leg up by Sukhbir8217;s better-half Harsimrat Badal. Her concept Nanhi Chaan to offer saplings and plants to devotees at Sikh shrines and elsewhere won the hearts all over.

On the development front, the state initiated a major programme to revamp the ageing canal irrigation infrastructure at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore. The government reduced stamp duty by one per cent. Although the PIDB got on to ambitious plans of around Rs 25,000-crore investments to upgrade Punjab8217;s infrastructure, many projects are yet to see the light of day. The much-hyped modern AC bus stand at Mohali failed to attract the right bidder. The Talwandi Sabo power plant could get just one bidder. The state government obtained Centre8217;s clearance for setting up a civilian terminal at Bhisiana airport, near Bathinda. For the first time, AC buses at just 10 per cent extra tariff were introduced on Punjab roads. The state passed a legislation of making Punjabi language compulsory in schools and official work.