In the controversy over a separate management committee to run Sikh shrines in Haryana, the protesting ruling alliance in Punjab has tried to rope in the support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by striking an emotional chord. The Akali Dal and the SGPC — the apex body managing gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh — have seldom missed an opportunity to point out that the PM’s father was a part of the Sikh struggle which eventually led to the formation of the SGPC.

This time, Sukhbir kept it simple

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s son, Sukhbir Badal, is back as the Deputy Chief Minister. In January, when he first took charge as Deputy CM, a whopping Rs 55 lakh was spent by the government on the oath-taking ceremony held at Amritsar. This had got a lot of flak from all quarters. This time, the ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh was a simple, low-key affair, sans any extravagance. Sukhbir had resigned in July in keeping with the rules which require a person to get elected within six months of taking oath.

State Cong scouts for a new leader

After its good showing in the Lok Sabha elections, the Punjab Congress is on the backfoot, having lost all the four bypolls in quick succession. The margin of defeat, especially at Jalalabad from where Sukhbir Badal won, was even more embarrassing. The Congress is looking for a change in the state leadership. As the present PCC chief, Mohinder Kaypee, is also an MP, the party is considering a full-time president. While Capt Amarinder Singh is a frontrunner, he has too many detractors in the party.

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