3 states will have to pay for water: Punjab House

Passes resolution against handing over land for SYL canal

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today passed a resolution directing the state government to demand charges for riverwaters flowing to the non-riparian states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. It asked the state to seek the Centre’s help to recover the charges.

The resolution also directed the Punjab Government, Council of Ministers and all state employees not to hand over land to any agency for the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, allow any agency to begin work on it, or cooperate with any agency in its construction. The proposal was mooted by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Edit: Election-time itch

Addressing the House, Badal said all aspects of water, including drainage, embankments, water storage and water power, fell in the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The state could not part with its waters since almost 105 blocks were water-stressed and groundwater utilisation had been overexploited, he said.

“Punjab needs 52 MAF (million acre feet) water for agriculture, but only 27 per cent is presently being met from riverwaters. The once-fertile land is becoming barren because of low water availability, which will impact the food security of the nation and the state’s economy,” he said.

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The Opposition Congress MLAs, who resigned from the Assembly last week in the wake of the SC verdict rendering the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act 2004 invalid, chose to stay away from the session.

However, Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains — Independent MLAs from Ludhiana — and Pargat Singh, who quit the Akali Dal recently, were present. The Bains brothers, particularly Simarjit, targeted the Treasury Benches for stealing his private member’s Bill moved in the last session on seeking charges from non-riparian states for water use.

Accusing Badal of failing to defend the rights of the state in the Supreme Court, Simarjit said giving these directions was “just politics at play”.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal proposed the resolution saying there had been instances where the state had demanded royalty and received it. Patiala, Nabha and Jind paid royalty till 1945-46 for using waters of the Sutlej, he said.

Bassi Pathana MLA Nirmal Singh said Rajasthan owed the state Rs 80,000 crore as royalty for using state waters.

Simarjit Singh Bains, however, put the figure at Rs 15.34 lakh crore. On Bains’ insistence, the names of the three non-riparian states were incorporated in the resolution.

The government was initially contemplating bringing the demand of seeking remuneration from other non-riparian states through a Bill — The Punjab State Ownership, Utilization and Imposition of Cess/Charges on Water Bill, 2016. But being a money Bill, it required a nod from the Punjab Governor, who wouldn’t have given his assent to bringing a money Bill during the emergency session, said sources.

The government then decided to use all provisions envisaged in the draft Bill into a resolution and issue directions to the state for its implementation. Interestingly, the directions issued by the legislature can be set aside only by another legislation.

With the SYL canal issue dominating the state politics for over three decades now, whichever party forms the next government is unlikely to reverse this decision.

Won’t pay a penny: Rajasthan minister

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 16

Rajasthan has refused to accept Punjab’s demand for royalty on its riverwaters. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today passed a resolution, seeking Rs 80,000 crore in royalty on Punjab’s riverwaters flowing to Rajasthan.

Rajasthan Irrigation minister Ram Partap said Rajasthan neither owed money to Punjab nor it would accord royalty on riverwaters.

“The Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s resolution is a one-sided affair and inappropriate. Why should Rajasthan pay royalty to Punjab when our state is getting the due share of riverwaters,” Partap told The Tribune over phone.

Rajasthan, he said, was getting water as per its share fixed in the 1981 agreement, wherein there was no provision for royalty to Punjab.

“There is no provision for royalty to Punjab in any accord or Act. The Supreme Court has revoked the 2004 decision of Punjab to annul the riverwaters accord. So, the Punjab Assembly’s resolution is against the spirit of the Act,” the minister said.

Rajasthan is getting 2,200 cusecs of water from Bikaner canal and 11,000 cusecs from Rajasthan feeder; both canals are at Harike headworks. It is getting water at the rate of 2.5 cusecs per 1,000 acres.

Vijay Pal Singh Maan, Executive Engineer, Harike headworks, said: “Rajasthan has no right on Punjab’s riverwaters as per international laws. It is taking water from Punjab free of the cost.”

After stormy session, Bains brothers quit Vidhan Sabha

Claim govt copied their proposal to demand royalty for riverwaters

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News service

Chandigarh, November 16

Stealing the show during the one-day special Vidhan Sabha session today, Awaaz-e-Punjab leaders Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, independent MLAs from Ludhiana, forced the treasury benches to amend the resolution — demanding charges for riverwater from non-riparian states — by adding the word “cost” along with “royalty”. They also made them agree to raising the costs and royalty bill to Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.

The initial resolution moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal only mentioned taking up the issue of securing royalty from non-riparian states with the Centre.

The Bains brothers later alleged that the ruling party stole their proposal for raising charges for water flowing to the non-riparian states. “I was thrown out of the Assembly during the last session when I wanted a debate on the private member’s resolution on Punjab not claiming royalty from Rajasthan since 1965 for sharing its riverwaters. My resolution was rejected by the Speaker. Now, the same has been adopted by the ruling party,” said Simrajit Bains on the floor of the House.

The MLA brothers contradicted Bassi Pathana MLA Nirmal Singh, who said Rajasthan owed Rs 80,000 crore to the state as royalty for using its waters. Simarjit claimed that Rajasthan owed the state Rs 15.34 lakh crore.

Right from the beginning, the MLAs targeted the government with sporadic reference to the Congress rule for “politicking” on the water dispute. After exchanging heated arguments with Bikram Majitha and then Virsa Singh Valtoha, the duo reached the well of the House to hand over their resignation to the Speaker. The latter refused to accept the resignations, saying they should tender submit it in his office.

The Bains brothers along with Pargat Singh sat on a dharna outside the House and raised slogans against the Speaker.

Talking to the media, the Bains brothers said they were going to submit their resignation at the Speaker’s office. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who was not well, would also send her resignation by mail.

State has no water to sell: Cong

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh said the resolution passed by the Assembly was ridiculous, irrational and illogical. He said Punjab had “no surplus water to sell”.

Punjab simply cannot give water to its non-riparian neighbours at any cost, said Amarinder, pointing out that the state was itself facing acute water scarcity that the question of sharing the riverwaters did not arise.

Amarinder lashed out at the Badal government for making no mention of the state’s water scarcity and its consequent inability to share water in its resolution, which was “blatantly in violation” of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1955.

He alleged that by seeking royalty for water shared with other states w.e.f 1966, the Akalis had laid the foundation for making similar demand for water sharing in the future.

Charanjit Singh Channi, Leader of Opposition, while addressing the media, said the directions to the state government and the employees not to hand over any land to any agency for construction of SYL canal were farce. The resolution passed by the ruling party did not require intervention of the legislative.

Instead of passing a resolution, the Badal-led government should have brought a strong Bill on the issue. “But they do not have the courage as they fear dismissal at hands of the Modi-led Union Government,” alleged Channi

Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former CM, said the government had been exposed on the issue. She alleged that the Badal government put up a weak case before the Supreme Court.

‘Govt traded waters with Sehajdhari Bill’

Amritsar: PPCC vice-president Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday justified Congress' stance to not attend the special Assembly session on SYL canal. He accused the SAD of selling Punjab's water rights to the BJP in exchange for the SGPC Act Amendment Bill. "The party did this to retain its hold on the Sikh body," he told the media here. He questioned the aim of calling the special Assembly session. "The government relegated the SYL canal on the back burner for 12 years. It brought the matter into prominence to gain mileage in the elections." "An administrative order to denotify the SYL land would have sufficed. What was the need to summon a session? To exploit the issue in the elections can be the only reason," Jakhar said. TNS

Questions if Sukhbir knew about currency ban

Gurdaspur: Jakhar hinted that Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal might have been aware of the government's demonitisation move. He said: "I have no proof, but people have started questioning Sukhbir's absence from Punjab in the days succeeding September 28 when the state government had ordered the evacuation process." tns

SAD’s first list of 69 has 17 new faces

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today released its first list of 69 candidates for the Punjab Assembly polls, fielding 17 new faces and changing the constituencies of six.

The new entrants are Parambans Singh Romana (Faridkot), Parkash Singh Bhatti (Balluana), Gurpreet Singh alias Raju Khanna (Amloh), Baldev Singh Khaira (Phillaur), Paramjit Singh Pamma ( Kapurthala), Hardeeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon (Gidderbaha), Satbir Singh Khatra (Patiala Rural), Kabir Dass (Nabha), Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi (Banga), Jarnail Singh Wahid (Nawanshahr), Gurmeet Singh Kular (Atam Nagar), Ajeet Singh Shant (Mehal Kalan), Seth Satpal Mall (Kartarpur) Santa Singh Umaidpur (Samrala), Ishwar Singh Meharban (Payal), Amarjot Kaur Sahoke (Jagraon) and the son of MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, Harinder Pal Singh (Sanaur). Pamma is brother-in-law of singer Hans Raj Hans.

Former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur (Kartarpur) and CPS Avinash Chander (Phillaur), whose names had cropped up in a drug scam, have been denied the ticket.

Among other sitting MLAs to have been left out are Rajwinder Kaur (Nihalsinghwala) GS Ghudiana (Balluana) and Deep Malhotra (Faridkot). Former bureaucrat DS Guru too has been dropped.

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The party has changed the constituencies of six MLAs. Finance Minister PS Dhindsa has been shifted to Lehragaga from Sunam, SR Kler from Jagraon to Nihalsinghwala, Justice (retd) Nirmal Singh to Chamkaur Sahib from Bassi Pathana, Sarabjit Singh Makkar from Kapurthala to Jalandhar Cantt and Hira Singh Gabria to the Ludhiana South seat from Atam Nagar. Sant Balvir Singh Ghunas has been moved to Bhadaur.

Akali stalwarts and their kin have been accommodated too. RS Talwandi, son of Jagdev Singh Talwandi, gets the ticket from Khanna, former Speaker NS Kahlon has been fielded from Fatehgarh and Hira Singh from Zira.

Sons of other prominent leaders fielded are Vardev Singh Mann, son of the late MP Zora Singh Mann (Guru Harsahai), Dilraj Singh Bhunder, son of MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder (Sardulgarh) and Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, son of Speaker CS Atwal (Raikot).

Please-all exercise

Seats of six MLAs, including Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, changed
Ex-minister Sarwan S Phillaur, CPS Avinash Chander, denied the party ticket
No ticket for liquor baron Deep Malhotra, former bureaucrat DS Guru
SC Sikhs allotted 19 seats, Ramgarhias 2, Hindus 6

Election-time itch

Badal fishing for political martyrdomRattled by the latest Supreme Court advisory to the President, the Punjab Government has denotified the SYL land for the second time in eight months, exercising executive powers. The earlier legislative effort was thwarted by the Governor who did not give consent to the Bill passed. Opposition cooperation, available then, was missing now as the Congress dubbed it “political gimmickry” and stayed away from the Assembly session which passed a resolution against the construction of the SYL Canal and in favour of collecting a cess from the states using river waters passing through Punjab.

Citizens as well as political leaders understand that inter-state disputes cannot be settled through unilateral action. The 2004 water agreement termination Act was passed with fanfare; but Capt Amarinder Singh did not get the expected political mileage in the ensuing election despite a massive show of misplaced boldness. That presumably bold action, in fact, delayed efforts towards an acceptable solution as Punjab was dragged to a needless, costly legal battle. This time fortunately the Governor put his foot down, denying Chief Minister Badal a chance to go on a similar legislative misadventure. Irrational remedies Badal is trying these days are bound to be challenged in court. Punjab has lost thrice in the Supreme Court despite having a strong case on its water rights.

As expected, Haryana plans to move the Supreme Court for SYL Canal construction and an NGO has filed a contempt plea against Badal. It remains to be seen whether the Centre helps Badal gain political martyrdom he is seeking by doing what appeals to sentiment more than reason. Months before the Supreme Court ruling he had been trying to work up passions with disappointing results. It will be clear only after the 2017 elections whether people see him as a protector of Punjab waters or a dated politician trying old tricks. Political parties in Punjab are divided on SYL. At the end, solutions have to be workable and agreeable, in compliance with the established constitutional, judicial and democratic norms, not the ones that pit one state and its people against the other.

State has no water to sell: Cong

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh said the resolution passed by the Assembly was ridiculous, irrational and illogical. He said Punjab had “no surplus water to sell”.

He alleged that by seeking royalty for water shared with other states w.e.f 1966, the Akalis had laid the foundation for making similar demand for water sharing in the future.

Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former CM, said the government had been exposed on the issue. She alleged that the Badal government put up a weak case before the Supreme Court.

‘Govt traded waters with Sehajdhari Bill’

Questions if Sukhbir knew about currency ban

SAD’s Mrar to contest as Independent

Muktsar, November 16

With the announcement of the first list of SAD candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections, rebel voices too have started coming up. Senior SAD leader-cum-former Muktsar MLA Sukhdarshan Singh Mrar has announced to contest as an Independent candidate from Muktsar assembly constituency.

Mrar, who was in Chandigarh today, has even asked his supporters to start preparing for elections.

Speaking over the phone, his son Jaspal Singh Mrar, said, “We oppose the party’s decision of fielding Rozy Barkandi from Muktsar. My father has decided to contest the election as an Independent candidate. He will reach here tomorrow.”

Notably, Mrar was in the race for party’s ticket last time too but the party had fielded Rozy Barkandi from Muktsar. — TNS

Punjab Assembly resolution on SYL meaningless: Hooda

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today described the Punjab Assembly’s resolution to demand charges for river waters from Haryana and refusal of land for construction of the canal as meaningless. He said, “The Supreme Court’s verdict on SYL had attained finality now.”

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today passed a resolution in a special emergency session, directing the state government to take up the issue of recovering the charges for the state’s waters with the Centre. The Punjab Assembly also directed the state government, council of ministers and all state government employees to neither give land to any agency for the construction of the SYL canal nor let any agency do any work on it.

Hooda said no legislature or executive could now stop Haryana from getting its share of water.

He said the SC had given clear directions to the Centre to the canal constructed so that Haryana could get its share. Hooda said now it was for the BJP to decide whether it would like to withdraw support to the Badal government or be a party to the constant contempt of court by the SAD-BJP government.

He reiterated his demand of dismissal of the Badal government and the imposition of the President’s rule in Punjab, adding, the SAD-BJP government had failed to act as per the federal structure of the country.

Reacting to Punjab’s demand for water charges, Hooda said Punjab, instead, should pay for using Haryana’s share of river waters for the past 40 years.

“Does the Government of Punjab pay HP charges for using the waters of the Sutlej?” he questioned.

Hooda accused the Badal government of trying to spread anarchy by unnecessarily flaring people’s sentiments on the issue.

He also castigated the Centre for subjecting people to acute hardships by its faulty implementation of demonetisation plan. He, however, said the Congress welcomed the act to curb black money.

INLD writes to Prez, seeks meeting

Chandigarh: The INLD has sought time for a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee on the SYL canal issue. A party spokesperson said Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala had written to the President for giving him time of his convenience so that he and his party MLAs and other leaders could seek his indulgence in the completion of the canal by placing facts before him. Abhay wrote that after a prolonged legal battle, the apex court had given its verdict in Haryana's favour in 2002. However, in 2004, the Punjab Government passed a bill abrogating all water agreements in "defiance of the Supreme Court and in total contempt of the Constitution of India.

US association seeks completion of canal

Chandigarh: The US-based Haryana Association has demanded early construction of the SYL canal so that farmers in the state could get irrigation water for their crops. Niraj Sihag, vice-president of the association, said that a meeting of the body was held in Washington DC where members welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court on the SYL canal and demanded its early implementation. Sihag said that the association would soon meet Indian Ambassador in the US and submit a memorandum to him in this regard. He said the association would take up the issue at all levels and was ready to provide all kinds of help for the state's legitimate right over SYL waters.

Jassi goes hammer and tongs against Manpreet

Says Jassi jaisa koi nahin; helped Manpreet poll 30,000 more votes from Bathinda urban to reduce loss margin

Gurdeep Singh Mann

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 16

Creating flutters in the local politics of Bathinda, former Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi—a close relative of Sirsa dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim—today openly lashed out at Congress leader Manpreet Badal.

Speaking during a show of strength—wherein district president (urban) and all the local Congress Municipal councilors were also present—Jassi termed Manpreet a ‘high-flier’ who can stoop to any level to achieve his aim.

“It was I who stood by him (Manpreet Badal) during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 30,000 votes in his share increased from the Bathinda urban area, which helped Manpreet get a face-saving defeat against his sister-in-law Harsimrat Kaur Badal,” Jassi said, amidst applause by a crowd of around 250 to 350.

He said Manpreet is the kind of person who keeps changing attitude and appearances every now and then. “He keeps shuttling from one party to another. Once in SAD, he formed his own party and then chalked out modalities to join Modi (BJP) and AAP, but settled for Congress,” Jassi added, pointing out that it was he who suggested and guided him to join the Congress.

“But now, he is behaving as if he is the owner of this (Bathinda urban) constituency,” Jassi further said. He stated that he now realises the mistake and has learnt from a Punjabi saying—Botay nu jis drakht de hethan khadao oh useday hi pattay khaanda hai. (A camel would eat the leaves of the plant under which he is tethered with).

Politics is no Shero-Shayari, but a leader has to make a heart-to-heart contact with the people and should remain on tenterhooks to help his voters and well-wishers. “But Manpreet is not like that. If he is so fond of fighting elections, then he must look towards Lambi and Gidderbaha and should not demoralise the people like me who helped him get 30,000 votes,” said an irate Jassi. He said instead of getting appreciation for denting the vote bank of SAD, he will now pay the price for the good work as Manpreet is now eying the Bathinda (urban) constituency.

Jassi also demanded that Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal should resign on the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.

Manpreet’s reaction

When Manpreet Badal was asked to react to the statements made by Jassi, he said, “I have nothing to do with Bathinda (urban) constituency. I am doing whatever the party high command is directing me to do. I have not even applied for a ticket for this constituency, but would contest the elections from wherever the high command asks me to.”

Officialspeak

He keeps shuttling from one party to another. Once in SAD, he formed his own party and then chalked out modalities to join Modi (BJP) and AAP, but settled for Congress.— Harminder Singh Jassi, former Congress MLA

Show of strength

Speaking during a show of strength—wherein district president (urban) and all the local Congress Municipal councillors were
also present—Jassi termed Manpreet a ‘high-flier’ who can stoop to any level to achieve his aim
Jassi also demanded that Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal should resign on
the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal

Congress to mobilise opinion over SYL issue

Party says Amarinder the real saviour of Punjab waters

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 16

The Congress has begun to mobilise public opinion over Captain Amarinder Singh’s resignation over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.

On Wednesday, Congress leader from Mansa, Manjit Singh Jhalbutti, along with some youth Congress members held a meeting with residents of Mansa and briefed them about the reason behind the resignation of Captain as the MP from Amritsar over the SYL issue.

He said the water of Punjab would be taken away if the Satluj Yamuna Link canal is constructed. Jhalbutti added that the Badal government took money from Haryana and even acquired land for SYL in Punjab whereas he is now playing politics by just de-notifying the land. Earlier, Badal had forgotten to take this denotification Bill along to get Presidential assent.

It may be mentioned that Congress MP from Amritsar and PPCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh had resigned along with 47 Congress MLAs after the Supreme Court had given its verdict over the SYL maintaining that it should be constructed and declared null the 2004 Water Termination of Agreements Act that was passed by Captain Amarinder Singh’s government in 2004.

Jhalbutti claimed that Captain Amarinder Singh was the real saviour of Punjab waters. He claimed that water is the soul of Punjabis and the state would be destroyed if the SYL is constructed.

17 new faces on SAD first list of 69 candidates

Five sitting MLAs dropped, seats of six candidates changed; seven turncoats rewarded with tickets

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday declared 69 candidates for the upcoming assembly polls by banking on youth, the Dalit vote bank and introducing 17 new faces in a bid to buck the strong anti-incumbency of its 10 years in power.The SAD, having an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will contest 94 seats of the total 117 in Punjab where elections are due in January-February next year.

Relying on his game-changer, social-engineering and shuffling of the candidates to dodge the public ire, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has introduced about 25% new faces and shuffled about 30% candidates on different seats. The first SAD list is a mix of caste, religion, subcaste and gender. The party has tried to do a balancing act within different sub-castes among the Scheduled Castes (SCs) too.For an example, the list includes names of nine candidates from Majhabi/Balmiki castes, 10 candidates are from Ravidasia/Ramdasia/ Adharmi castes, six Hindus, two Ramgarhias, one each Gujjar and Kamboj and four women.

All cabinet ministers will contest for their respective as-sembly segments, barring finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who will be fielded from Lehragaga, leaving Sunam.

Another highlight of the SAD’s battle line-up is the dynasty factor or the “son-rise.” The Badal dynasty that dominates the SAD can now claim to have given rise to some more. The list of 69 candidates has sons of at least four senior party leaders, who are either MPs or have decided to hang their boots.

Punjab assembly speaker Charnjit Singh Atwal has decided to end his innings and ensured a berth for his son, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal. But, Atwal, a fresh face, was fielded from Raikot and not from his father’s seat Payal (reserved) in Ludhiana.

Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra, son of MP Prem Singh Chandimajra will contest from Sanour in Patiala and Dilraj Singh Bhunder, son of senior Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder has been retained from Sardulgarh. And son of former MP Rattan Ajnala, Amarpal Singh Bonny, will jump into the fray from Ajanala in Amritsar.At least five sitting MLAs were dropped to blunt antiincumbency, while six candidates have been shuffled.

“We have tried to balance all the factors by giving representation to every section. Young leaders have been given tickets, besides fielding 17 new faces and changing some seats,” Sukhbir told Hindustan Times.

While betting on 17 first-timers, Sukhbir has accommodated party veterans who have opted to contest.

The defeated party stalwarts are also back. Sewa Singh Sekhwan will contest from Qadian, Nirmal Singh Kahlon from Fatehgarh Churian, Sucha Singh Langah from Dera Baba Nanak and Upinderjit Kaur from Sultanpur Lodhi.

While Sukhbir has retained brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia at latter’s stronghold, Majitha, the SAD has dropped former minister Sawran Singh Phillaur from the reserved seat of Kartarpur and former chief parliamentary secretary Avinash Chander from the reserved seat of Phillaur.

Young leaders have been given tickets, besides fielding 17 new faces and changing some seats,” Sukhbir told Hindustan Times.

While betting on 17 first-timers, Sukhbir has accommodated party veterans who have opted to contest.

At least five sitting MLAs were dropped to blunt anti-incumbency, while six candidates have been shuffled.

Among others dropped include liquor baron Deep Malhotra (Faridkot and replaced by Sukhbir loyalist Parambans Singh Romana), Gurtej Singh Ghuriana (Balluana) and Rajwinder Kaur (Nihal Singh Wala).

While dropping the “tainted”, the party, in the same stroke, has also tried to woo Ravidasia vote by fielding a close associate of Jalandhar-based Dera Ballan, Seth Satpal Mall, from Kartarpur. From Phillaur, Sukhbir has bet on a new face, Baldev Singh Khaira.

In a surprise move, the party has opted to field a SC candidate Paramjit Singh Pamma, an advocate, from the general category seat of Kapurthala. Pamma is a brother-in-law of Sufi singer and Congress leader Hans Raj Hans.

Like in 2012 elections, the SAD has shuffled seats of few MLAs.

MLA Justice Nirmal Singh (retd) has been shifted to Chamkaur Sahib, the seat represented by Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi.

Rajwinder Kaur, sitting MLA from Nihal Singh Wala, has been dropped and former bureaucrat SR Kler, has been shifted to her seat from Jagraon.

While dropping a woman, Sukhbir also accommodated another by allotting the Jagraon seat to new face Amarjit Kaur Sahoke. The list has named candidates for 19 out of state’s 34 reserved seats.

Sukhbir’s strategy of fielding Hindu faces from seats where the community has a considerable vote-bank had paid off in the last elections. This time too, there are six Hindus on the list and barring Deep Malhotra, all sitting Hindu MLAs have been retained.

The predominantly Jat Sikhdominated list also has two urban Sikhs.

Akalis play Dalit card in first list

Some prominent faces missing among 18 candidates named for reserved seats on Wednesday

PATIALA: The announcement of tickets for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidates has clearly indicated that deputy chief minister and party president Sukhbir Badal is eyeing the Dalit votes, a formula that trounced the Congress in the 2012 pollsf the 18 reserved seats for which candidates have been announced, 12 have got new faces, either by dropping some sitting MLAs or swapping some others.

Sukhbir, using his smart social engineering, had sprung surprises in 2012, when the SAD had won 21 seats reserved for Dalits, while the Congress, which traditionally gets SC votes, managed only 10, while the BJP got three of the 34 seats reserved for Dalits in Punjab, which has maximum percentage of Dalit voters. To woo the Ravidas community vote bank, tickets have been allotted to Dera Sach Khand Ballan pointsmen Kabir Das and Seth Satpal Mal, who recently joined the SAD after quitting the Congress.

And, in a bid to repeat the 2012 results, Sukhbir again focused on Dalit seats, where the Congress is looking for candidates. Sukhbir has dropped even Dalit heavyweights such as speaker of the Vidhan Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal (Payal), former cabinet ministers and sitting MLAs Swaran Singh Phillaur (Kartarpur) and Avnish Chander (Phillaur), both facing the heat of the Bhola drug racket, and Gurtej Singh Ghuriana (Balluana) and Rajwinder Kaur (Nihal Singh Wala).

Only five sitting MLAs have been pitted from their earlier contested seats.