Ask them to list the development projects initiated by Surjit Singh Barnala in his home constituency as chief minister, and most Barnala residents draw a blank. Surjit Singh Barnala may have been an Akali heavyweight, but his failure to nurture his constituency has not helped his cause. The support base of the octogenarian leader is dwindling. Though his family members give him the credit for bringing... 

Chandigarh Putting to rest all speculations about the constituency from where he will contest the 2012 Assembly elections, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be SAD’s candidate from Lambi in Muktsar district. The name of Badal, who will be the SAD’s chief ministerial candidate — figured in the list of 48 candidates whose names were announced by the party on Friday. Significantly, Deputy... 

BARNALA: Reports of SAD (Longowal), led by former Punjab chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala’s wife Surjit Kaur — formed over a year back to oppose Badals-led Shiromani Akali Dal — being in dilemma about its future notwithstanding, the party leadership has denied any plan to merge with any party in the near future. This follows an admission by Barnala’s son and former SAD MLA,... 

CHANDIGARH: The Election Commission on Saturday announced single-phase elections in Punjab on January 30. The term of the assembly in Punjab, with 117 constituencies of which 34 are reserved, ends on March 14. The January 30 date for holding elections to the legislative assembly of Punjab may has left painfully less time for political parties to prepare for the big fight ahead, but leaders of all parties... 

MALERKOTLA: The high-pitched political battle in this princely town is entering an interesting phase with ADGP Mohammad Mustafa’s wife and Malerkotla sitting MLA Razia Sultana saying that the security of former DGP Izhar Alam, who may contest against her, is of prime importance. Razia has dashed off a letter to Punjab DGP for enhancing Alam’ security. Reason: If anything happens to Alam,... 

A British man battling to have turban checks banned in Polish airports has lost his court case. Shaminder Puri, 64, a geologist from Dorchester upon Thames, Oxfordshire, regularly flies to Poland, but said he was constantly being forced to remove his religious headwear by airport security staff there. Sikhs say a victory would have sent out a strong signal to other EU countries like Italy and Spain... 

The seizure of around two hundred pro-Khalistani T-shirts in Ludhiana by Punjab police has turned into a controversy. The police had on Thursday seized the T-shirts from a manufacturing unit. The T-shirts, bearing Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s picture with “Pakke Khalistani” (True Khalistani) written on them, were being manufactured in this unit. The matter took a political turn as the police... 

CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday refused to pass any order on a petition seeking appointment of an administrator for managing affairs of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The issue came up before the division bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Surya Kant while they heard a petition filed by Sehajdhari Sikh Party. Petitioners had also sought directions... 

Chandigarh, Dec 24 (PTI) With the Punjab polls set to take place on January 30, the Election Commission today said it has planned various measures to prevent misuse of drugs and liquor in the state. “The Commission had received several complaints from different parties fearing misuse of drugs, liquor and money during the polls. The DGP also sent us a report in this regard, which we have forwarded... 

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s photos may soon be off the free ambulances that traverse the length and breadth of the State. But, the photos are likely to remain on the ration cards. Badal’s snapshots are prominently displayed on the ambulances, ration cards, and other social welfare schemes. Taking cognisance, the State Election Commission has asked for the removal of the...