CONGRESS APPOINTS ZONE-WISE OBSERVERS
Concerned over the infighting in Punjab Congress, party chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday appointed four observers for different regions of the state — former MP from Maharashtra Sanjay Nirupam and senior leader from Gujarat Arjun Modhwadia for all-important Malwa region; MP from Telangana Uttam Kumar Reddy for Majha; and former Himachal Congress president and sitting MLA Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for Doaba region. With the help of these observers, the party high command will directly monitor the poll preparations and will get first-hand information about the happenings in the state by keeping eye on the activities of the leaders and directly send their reports to the high command.
The party has already appointed observers in all districts who are monitoring the activities and performance of Congressmen at the district level. Besides, these observers are also continuously mobilizing the Congressmen in the district in favour of the party.
SAD CANDIDATE WADALA FACES THREE FIRs
Nakodar: Two-time Nakodar MLA and SAD candidate Gurpartap Singh Wadala is facing three FIRs (First Information Reports). Wadala, in his affidavit filed with the nomination papers in Saturday, disclosed that an FIR was registered against him on June 7, 2021, by SAS Nagar police at Mataur police station, while another was registered against him on March 16, 2021, by Chandigarh police at sector 3 police station, and another case was registered against him on December 8, 2017, by Jalandhar (rural) police at Lohian Khas police station.
“These FIRs were registered in connection with dharna against Punjab’s Finance Minister, Haryana’s Chief Minister, and blocking of highway during a dharna, respectively. As per his affidavit, no challan has been presented in any court in these matters.
ECI ISSUES PROCEDURE FOR TRANSPORTATION OF CASH SCRUPULOUSLY
Chandigarh: Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for transportation of cash scrupulously during the Model Code of Conduct. “As per SOP, the bank shall ensure that cash vans of outsourced agencies or companies, carrying that bank's cash, shall not, under any circumstances, carry cash of any third party agencies or individuals except the banks,” said Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju. He added that outsourced agencies or companies shall carry letters or documents etc, issued by the banks giving details of the cash released by the banks to them and carried by them for filing the ATMs and delivering cash at other branches, banks or currency chests. Besides, the personnel of outsourced agencies or companies accompanying the cash van shall carry identity cards issued by the respective agencies.
PUNJAB LOK CONGRESS ANNOUNCES 7 MORE CANDIDATES
Chandigarh: Punjab Lok Congress on Saturday announced the names of seven more candidates for the February 20 elections. Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s newly-formed Punjab Lok Congress will contest 37 seats along with BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt). PLC has fielded Jaskaran Singh Sandhu from Patti, Shammi Kumar Kalyan from Nakodar, Jagdish Kumar Jassal from Adampur, Karanveer Singh Indora from Malout, Dargesh Kumar Sharma from Kotkapura, Makhan Singh from Bathinda Rural, and Jiwan Dass Bawa from Mansa.
NOMINATION PAPERS NOT TO BE FILED TODAY: CEO
Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju on Saturday informed that no nomination papers for the Vidhan Sabha Polls would be filed on January 30, 2022, in view of the holiday. Dr Raju said that as per the schedule announced to file nomination papers for the upcoming Vidhan Sabha Polls, nominations started with the issuance of notification on 25 January, which would remain continue till February 1. January 30, being Sunday, is a holiday. Therefore, nomination papers would not be presented to the Returning Officer on that day.
ANNOUNCE CHANNI AS NEXT CM FACE, YOUTH CONGRESS WORKERS WRITE TO RAGA
Chandigarh: Two days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hinted at announcing the Chief Minister’s (CM) face in Punjab after seeking feedback from workers, several Youth Congress workers from Jalandhar on Saturday write a letter to the senior leader recommending Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s name.
The Youth Congress leaders, in a signed letter, appealed to take into consideration incumbent Channi as the next CM face of the party in the upcoming elections. Jalandhar district youth congress leader Angad Dutta said that in just a few months of his tenure, Channi had introduced various policies for the development of the state.
“In just 100 days, the State Government has shown efforts in tackling the drug menace in the state, provided financial assistance to the family of Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims, setting up educational institutions, procurement of foodgrains among others”, he added.
