regionalbuzz
Keeping tabs on power politics in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and J&K
Soothsayers warming up ahead of Punjab polls
With the assembly elections in Punjab round the corner, those making political predictions are much in demand. A recent Facebook post by a Ludhiana astrologer posing with cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa at his (former’s) residence went viral last week. The minister is among the netas who frequent the astrologer. While Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu is said to be among the astrologer’s “close associates”, cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi is a “family friend’. The astrologer claims he predicted Akali’s win – one of his most accurate re predictions – in the 2012 assembly polls when most other astrologers and experts had forecast a Congress victory.
Jassi eyes Talwandi Sabo
Former Punjab minister Harminder Singh Jassi is eyeing Talwandi Sabo constituency in Bathinda district in the approaching assembly polls. Among the most protected Punjab politicians, the three-time former legislator is a close relative of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Jassi has increased his presence and political activities, attending bhog ceremonies and social and religious events in Talwandi Sabo, saying a goodbye to Maur segment. “I am hopeful that the party leadership will understand that Talwandi is my home turf. Others are also interested but I don’t see any political threat due to my long association with the area,” he said. In 2017, Jassi was shifted to Maur where he miraculously survived twin deadly bomb blasts at an election rally.
The name game
How does one spell the name of newly appointed Haryana governor Bandaru Dattaterya or Dattatraya? Well, as per the recent orders of appointment issued by the President’s Secretariat and subsequent notification issued by the Haryana government after his oath, it is Dattatraya.
However, the veteran BJP politician who contested 2014 polls from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency himself made a correction to his name in his poll affidavit to make it Dattaterya. The Lok Sabha records also show the name of four term MP likewise. Since the President’s Secretariat has spelled him Dattatraya, the Governor may not like to change it. Anyway, what’s in a name, as William Shakespeare would have put it.
Vij takes a dig at Sidhu
Haryana home minister Anil Vij does not hesitate to air his views on political developments even they pertain
to neighbouring Punjab. The firebrand minister recently took a dig at his former BJP colleague and Congress leader Navjot Sidhu. Commenting on the possibility of Sidhu quitting the Congress to join another outfit, Vij said though it is a matter of Sidhu’s personal choice, he should not spoil political parties by switching sides. “My advice to him is that he should rather float his own political party,’’ Vij said sarcastically.
Face race in HP Cong
Days after former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh passed away, a race is on in the Congress to become the face of the party, and claimant for the chief minister’s post, in case the party wins next year’s assembly in the state. All India Congress Committee secretary Asha Kumari, leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, former ministers GS Bali, Sudhir Sharma and former state party president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are among the leaders whose names are doing the rounds. While Asha Kumari’s supporters have been running a campaign for her, Bali held a press conference making a claim for Kangra, stating that it has been more than two decades since a leader from the region became the CM. “Hamirpur, Mandi and Shimla have got CM during this period and now it is the turn of Kangra,” he said.