Three years over, still going strong

Captain Amarinder Singh completes three years as Punjab CM later this month. A huge celebration is being planned to mark the occasion. Few e...

Captain Amarinder Singh completes three years as Punjab CM later this month. A huge celebration is being planned to mark the occasion. Few expected Amarinder to last so long, particularly after he passed an Act terminating the river-water agreements and his party’s disastrous performance in the Lok Sabha elections. But Amarinder continues, as dissidence has melted away.

His main rival, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, is quiet. And the family of former CM Beant Singh is split, with the daughter siding with Amarinder and the son ousted from the Cabinet. The lone opposition today is Jagmeet Singh Brar, who was not even allowed to speak at a Congress function in his hometown.

Much ado over Ajnala bypolls on Feb 27

The government completes three years on February 27, the same day that the bypoll result for a lone Assembly seat is expected. Punjab goes overboard during bypolls, and this time is no exception. The entire State’s attention is on Ajnala, a small town near Amritsar that’s witnessing a bypoll since its MLA was elected to Parliament. The State Secretariat is empty, ministers are camping in Amritsar, and bureaucrats are routinely absent from work.

Story continues below this ad

A decade ago, it was this very seat that saw the Beant Singh government losing to the Akali Dal, and the revival of Parkash Singh Badal’s political fortunes. Dr Rattan Singh won the seat for the Akali Dal that time, and today his son Amarpal Singh is contesting the seat.

Where’s the Third Front in Punjab?

The decline of the Third Front is probably more evident in Punjab than anywhere else. Simranjeet Singh Mann is frequently losing some of his cadre. The BSP has been unable to make its presence felt, and does not have a single MLA in the House. And the last three bypolls have seen the party’s vote-share fall drastically. The Left too does not have any MLA, after two of its legislators quit the CPI and joined the Congress. Its attempts to field candidates during the previous bypolls were disastrous. Maybe that’s why the Left is staying away from Ajnala.

Compiled by Bajinder Pal Singh

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India18 min ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

View all shorts

Live Blog