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,... 

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... 

Moga, Dec 24 (PTI) Former Punjab DGP P S Gill, who held the post of advisor to the State Department of Home and Justice, has resigned after the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal nominated him as a candidate from Moga constituency for the upcoming state Assembly polls. “I have resigned from the post (which he held in honorary capacity) after my name was announced as SAD candidate,” Gill told reporters... 

Chandigarh, Dec 24 (IANS) Just over a year ago, former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Badal was expelled from the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal owing to ideological differences with the top leadership. Now, as the state gets into the assembly poll mode, Manpreet is facing a situation of his closest aides deserting him and his People’s Party of Punjab (PPP). Two founder members of the PPP, Jagbir... 

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal in its core committee meeting, late on Thursday night, handed over all the rights of selecting candidates in the party to fight the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. The first of the lists of Akali Dal candidates, about 50 in the first phase, will be released on December 24. The issue of Punjab and Haryana high court quashing notification denying voting rights... 

Jalandhar: Dissensions within BJP in Punjab notwithstanding, the party hopes to repeat the 2007 performance and is eying contesting 23 assembly seats, not necessarily in all the ones it contested the last time around. Hoping to turn around sagging morale of party men, BJP leaders through the week have been gearing up for making the Saturday Jan Vishwas Maha Rally here a success. Leader of the coalition... 

Scores of organisations and groups of overseas Punjabis are making a beeline for their ancestral homes in an endeavour to extract assurances from top leadership of major political parties about the security of their landed properties here. “Election is the best time to get a commitment from the politicians,” says Dalwinder Singh Dhoot, Chairman of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA).... 

Faridkot, December 13 The pain and suffering of thousands of families in the district who have no access to safe drinking water seems to be losing in the electioneering din with no party speaking about the issue. “The election issues being raised by various political leaders do not touch our lives. The politicians are only interested in attacking their rivals,” said a rather disappointed Tarsem...