Chandigarh confidential

Jakhar's 'home truths'

Though the Punjab government has asked former leader of opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal to vacate her house and the Chandigarh administration "evicted" former state DGP P S Gill to give Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar a new home, his heart lies elsewhere. According to a close aide, Jakhar is interested in getting the house vacated by D S Guru, former principal secretary to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The reason: The house in Chandigarh's Sector 5 is next to that of Haryana Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh, a dear friend who tended on Jakhar after a road accident. As the injury healed, the bond grew strong between the two Jat leaders. But matters of the heart, Mr Jakhar, do not decide official ones.

A generous offer indeed

Still on the issue of Rajinder Kaur Bhattal not vacating the official accommodation allotted to her as the leader of opposition despite the Punjab government issuing her a notice. Referring to Bhattal's argument that she will not leave and pitch a tent outside the house if she is forcefully evicted, Sukhbir, without naming her, said that he had "no problem" if someone desired to live in a tent. "In fact, these days tents available in the market are of very good quality," he said in a lighter vein and generously offered to send her one. Bhattal has been living in the said house for the last 19 years as a cabinet minister, chief minister and leader of opposition.

Royals versus loyals

After polarising erstwhile Patiala Royals before the Assembly polls, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal now seems to be in mood to reward his loyalists. After the much-public spat with state Congress president Amarinder Singh, his younger brother Malwinder Singh is now fuming at the Badals for betraying his trust. But Sukhbir is having the last laugh. He is interested is swapping the Patiala Lok Sabha seat — which reportedly was to go to Malwinder — with BJP in lieu of Amritsar, from where his brother-in-law and minister Bikram Singh Majithia, is trying to oust BJP MP Navjot Sidhu. Left in the cold, Malwinder is now cosying up to the family. All said, blood is after all thicker than water.

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