‘CAR POOLING’ BY CONGRESS LEADERS
As all the MLAs were seen leaving the Vidhan Sabha after Monday’s session in their choicest swanky SUVs, there was a rare but welcome sight of ‘car pooling’. Congress MP Ravneet Bittu and party MLAs — Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Kuldeep Singh and Sanjay Talwar — were seen leaving together in an Toyota Innova, along with six to seven supporters. Adding spice to it, former cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia was seen clicking their picture. Was it austerity, camaraderie or just a chance when they all faced vehicle shortage? Curiosity over seal on CM office door A seal fixed on chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s office in the Vidhan Sabha made the photojournalists curious on Monday. Many of them clicked the pictures of the seal fixed to the lock of the door. When contacted, Vidhan Sabha secretary Shashi Lakhanpal cleared the air, saying it was practice as part of the security drill because chief ministers are covered under the Z-plus security. “Fixing a seal to the lock when the CM is out of the office is a mandatory exercise,” she said. Sidhu entertains Punjab legislators were treated to Sidhuism, as the cabinet minister castigated the Aam Aadmi Party for staging a walkout. “Before polls, the AAP used to say: Kejriwal sara Punjab tere naal (Kejriwal, whole Punjab is with you). Now, after the election, people question: Kejriwal ki ho gaya tere naal (Kejriwal, what happened to you)?” he said, taking a dig at the party’s national convener. FM’s right steps Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, true to his idea of austerity and simplicity in public life, walked from the assembly to his office in the secretariat after the day’s proceedings were over. Known for driving his own vehicle and keeping a low profile, he chose to walk the short 500m distance between the two buildings. Other ministers and bureaucrats use their official car to reach their office from assembly.