CM Amarinder Singh has credited election strategist Prashant Kishor with Congress’ 2017 success, and said he wanted him back for the next Punjab polls.
Four decades of federal evolution made India more secure, but Covid-19 has made Centre give itself extraordinary powers, which have pushed states to beg.
Addressing the media, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh says there are few cases of primary infection in the state now, and most new ones are secondary infections.
Punjab govt officials said, considering the extraordinary circumstances, wheat procurement at mandis & purchasing centres will be done under heavy police security.
SAD president Sukhbir Badal’s allegations against Amarinder Singh’s Congress govt began after the death of Padma Shri awardee singer Nirmal Singh Khalsa.
Following the death, Punjab govt launches door-to-door campaigning, becoming the first state in India to involve its entire population in COVID-19 screening.
The sacrilege cases had cost the Akalis the 2017 assembly polls and SAD is now staring at a rebellion. Any adverse SIT report could cause further damage to the party.
The Italian term sprezzatura—a studied nonchalance that conceals intention—best captures the spirit of Trump’s foreign policy so far. The pattern is unpredictability, transactionalism, and disruption as diplomacy.
With 20.2 percent of its total loans in default by the end of last year, Bangladesh had the weakest banking system in Asia. Despite reforms, it will take time to recover.
This world is being restructured and redrawn by one man, and what’s his power? It’s not his formidable military. It’s trade. With China, it turned on him.
Mr. PK is smart enough to realize his futility in BJP ruled states which are going to polls for second or third time.
Progressively they are winning on the performance and not on advise of someone who gives an analysis based on figures, cast break-ups and such other factors which did play a major roll in the days before the performance based approach of governance.
If the performance of any government is good with a reasonably clean image Mr. PK can do all the HEADSTANDS he wants but will not get results.
He would do well to advise governments and his other clients how not to steal money and be fair in governance.
Are the people and politics of Punjab waiting for another ‘Captain’.
Again, Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu is hot in Punjab politics. Why is he being tracked so closely? This is why.
“Punjab da Captain” was a political campaign that I-PAC of Prashant Kishore launched for the packaging and branding of Captain Amarinder Singh as the future Chief minister of Punjab before the 2017 assembly elections. Captain Amarinder Singh or the The Maharaja (as his loyalists prefer to call him) of erstwhile Patiala Riyasat and Ex. Captain of the Indian Army was the PCC chief who clashed head on with Akalis during their ten years of power in Punjab with his no stop barbs. The ‘Punjab da Captain’ campaign was successful to the point that a “Captain defeated a General”.(Former army chief Gen JJ singh, of Aam Aadmi Party was defeated by Amarinder singh in the Patiala assembly constituency.)
Punjab assembly elections are due in the beginning of 2022,only a year and a half ahead of now .Before the last assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party had emerged as a new political force in Punjab politics and some political surveys had expected the AAP to form the government in this border state. But AAP fell way side of the majority mark in the assembly. Nevertheless AAP raised itself to the status of principal opposition party in Punjab assembly and captured the post of the Leader of Opposition. Later This LoP post was the main bone of contention among its leaders that divided and subdivided the AAP inside the assembly and outside.
All this needs a reminder here because at that time the people of Punjab attempted an experiment with the so called ‘third alternative’. Punjab is a bipartisan state except for a brief period when the communists have had some influence in the Punjab assembly and in some pockets of the Malwa belt. The ‘third alternative’ goal is being targeted again and again, sometimes from the left, sometimes from the right planks and sometimes from central positions but the board is not being hit. It was attempted once more, during the parliamentary elections of 2019.Disgruntled leader of Akali Dal formed Akali Dal Taksali and sided with AAP. The disgruntled Aam Aadmi Party leaders, one of whom formed Punjab Ekta Party and the other formed Nawan Punjab Party collaborated with Bahujan Samaj Party,and fought parliamentary elections under the banner of Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) but both the ‘fronts’lost all seats they contested due to lack of coordination and issues.
So the ‘third alternative’ is an incomplete project in Punjab, that has the possibilities of completion if pursued with the politics based on right kind of issues, images and peoples.
So this is why Sidhu is hot these days:In view of this simmering possibility of ‘third alternative’ there is one factor or personality that is being watched eagerly for his next political move. That personality is Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu.Once he starts playing his cards again, political orientation and activity will trigger. Mr Sidhu is lying low for quite some time after he resigned from the Punjab cabinet due to his differences with Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh. Although incommunicado, and he is appearing only on his newly launched you tube channel ‘Jittega Punjab’ he is being tracked for his next political action.
Sidhu is in the news again as it is being reported that Prashant Kishore is trying to woo Sidhu for AAP on behalf of Kejriwal. If I-PAC is hired by AAP for Punjab elections, Prashant Kishore will need a personality for packaging his campaign as he knit his campaigns around the personality whom people indentify with easily. So who can be more appropriate then Sidhu, the former cricket star and darling of media, always in demand for his sher -o-shayari and huge wide laughter in Punjabi style.
But here is more than this, that is attracting Prashant and increasing Sidhu’s brand value. It is Sidhu’s political past. Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan for the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan as the PM of Pakistan had come under scanner when photographs of flamboyant Sidhu and Pakistan Army Chief, General Bajwa hugging each other flashed on national media. At that time Sidhu shielded himself mentioning the discussion that took place between him and Gen. Bajwa, to open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which had been a long standing demand of the Sikh community since independence.
Sidhu’s stand to visit Pakistan by overruling Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s advice got vindicated when the Pakistan government announced to open up the said corridor and New Delhi reciprocated by laying the foundation stone at this side of the Radcliffe line. By this positive gesture of India and Pakistan government ,the one person who accumulated political capital in this Sikh majority state was Mr.Navjot Singh Sidhu. Efforts were made to deny Sidhu any credit for the opening of the corridor but people of Punjab gave him credit as was evident on the inauguration day, when the social media was replete with the comments by Punjabi people, thanking and giving credit to Navjot Singh Sidhu for this historical demand being fulfilled.
The anti Pakistan narrative doesn’t work in Punjab that has trans border ethnic, religious and linguistic affinities.
If Sidhu comes can Pargat be far behind. Pargat Singh is one of the stars from the heydays of Indian hockey team that still reign the memory of people, at least in Punjab whose sportspersons dominated the Indian hockey sky before cricket fully invaded the euphoria for sports. Pargat is bold and outspoken on matters of public concern. His occasional outbursts sends Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in tizzy especially when he airs his views on ‘not taking serious actions on the culprits of the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib,shooting at Bargari’ and the issue of drugs. These were the issues that shook the Punjab politics before the assembly elections of 2017.
During Sidhus’ controversies Pargat has reiterated many times that Sidhu remains his friend.
So consider implications and effects of a political Jugalbandi of two former sports stars who have carved a niche in people’s minds. Imagine a scenario : Two of these sports giants wearing the AAP strips on their turbans; Starts a yatra/march from either side of the Punjab end and meet at a centre point in heart of Punjab, culminating in a rally with a new ‘manifesto of hope’
It can stir the political scene of Punjab.
But Sidhu might be analysing the cost benefit ratio of his moving to AAP. Sidhu is in congres and is in good terms with Rahul and Priyanka. Remaining in the congress Mr. Sidhu can reap the benefits of a national party with foot soldiers in every town, city and village, a favourable high command in Delhi,a section of the Congress party that sympathise with him but up to the limits till Sidhu remains with the Congress.
Disadvantage of sticking with the Congress is that he has also to carry the baggage of Amarinders lethargy, of unfulfilled promises of the Congress party during the elections of 2017, i.e ‘Har Ghar Rozgar’ ,Karza Kurki Khatam Fasal Di Puri Rakam, ‘Apni Gaddi Apna Karobar’ etc. etc.
On joining AAP he can ride upon his clean image, the brand Delhi government model of Kejriwal politics that is being talked about in Punjab, the ideological committed workers and the NRI support. But for this he has to convince and surpass the ‘Old party guard’,-the so called founder members of the AAP.
So keep an eye on Sidhu and be ready for watching the episodes of interesting state elections. After Ma Matti Manush and Land of Temples in 2021, it will be ‘Apna Punjab’ in the beginning of 2022.
Ran Bahadur Singh
M-9463218996
Mr. PK is smart enough to realize his futility in BJP ruled states which are going to polls for second or third time.
Progressively they are winning on the performance and not on advise of someone who gives an analysis based on figures, cast break-ups and such other factors which did play a major roll in the days before the performance based approach of governance.
If the performance of any government is good with a reasonably clean image Mr. PK can do all the HEADSTANDS he wants but will not get results.
He would do well to advise governments and his other clients how not to steal money and be fair in governance.
Are the people and politics of Punjab waiting for another ‘Captain’.
Again, Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu is hot in Punjab politics. Why is he being tracked so closely? This is why.
“Punjab da Captain” was a political campaign that I-PAC of Prashant Kishore launched for the packaging and branding of Captain Amarinder Singh as the future Chief minister of Punjab before the 2017 assembly elections. Captain Amarinder Singh or the The Maharaja (as his loyalists prefer to call him) of erstwhile Patiala Riyasat and Ex. Captain of the Indian Army was the PCC chief who clashed head on with Akalis during their ten years of power in Punjab with his no stop barbs. The ‘Punjab da Captain’ campaign was successful to the point that a “Captain defeated a General”.(Former army chief Gen JJ singh, of Aam Aadmi Party was defeated by Amarinder singh in the Patiala assembly constituency.)
Punjab assembly elections are due in the beginning of 2022,only a year and a half ahead of now .Before the last assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party had emerged as a new political force in Punjab politics and some political surveys had expected the AAP to form the government in this border state. But AAP fell way side of the majority mark in the assembly. Nevertheless AAP raised itself to the status of principal opposition party in Punjab assembly and captured the post of the Leader of Opposition. Later This LoP post was the main bone of contention among its leaders that divided and subdivided the AAP inside the assembly and outside.
All this needs a reminder here because at that time the people of Punjab attempted an experiment with the so called ‘third alternative’. Punjab is a bipartisan state except for a brief period when the communists have had some influence in the Punjab assembly and in some pockets of the Malwa belt. The ‘third alternative’ goal is being targeted again and again, sometimes from the left, sometimes from the right planks and sometimes from central positions but the board is not being hit. It was attempted once more, during the parliamentary elections of 2019.Disgruntled leader of Akali Dal formed Akali Dal Taksali and sided with AAP. The disgruntled Aam Aadmi Party leaders, one of whom formed Punjab Ekta Party and the other formed Nawan Punjab Party collaborated with Bahujan Samaj Party,and fought parliamentary elections under the banner of Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) but both the ‘fronts’lost all seats they contested due to lack of coordination and issues.
So the ‘third alternative’ is an incomplete project in Punjab, that has the possibilities of completion if pursued with the politics based on right kind of issues, images and peoples.
So this is why Sidhu is hot these days:In view of this simmering possibility of ‘third alternative’ there is one factor or personality that is being watched eagerly for his next political move. That personality is Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu.Once he starts playing his cards again, political orientation and activity will trigger. Mr Sidhu is lying low for quite some time after he resigned from the Punjab cabinet due to his differences with Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh. Although incommunicado, and he is appearing only on his newly launched you tube channel ‘Jittega Punjab’ he is being tracked for his next political action.
Sidhu is in the news again as it is being reported that Prashant Kishore is trying to woo Sidhu for AAP on behalf of Kejriwal. If I-PAC is hired by AAP for Punjab elections, Prashant Kishore will need a personality for packaging his campaign as he knit his campaigns around the personality whom people indentify with easily. So who can be more appropriate then Sidhu, the former cricket star and darling of media, always in demand for his sher -o-shayari and huge wide laughter in Punjabi style.
But here is more than this, that is attracting Prashant and increasing Sidhu’s brand value. It is Sidhu’s political past. Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan for the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan as the PM of Pakistan had come under scanner when photographs of flamboyant Sidhu and Pakistan Army Chief, General Bajwa hugging each other flashed on national media. At that time Sidhu shielded himself mentioning the discussion that took place between him and Gen. Bajwa, to open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which had been a long standing demand of the Sikh community since independence.
Sidhu’s stand to visit Pakistan by overruling Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s advice got vindicated when the Pakistan government announced to open up the said corridor and New Delhi reciprocated by laying the foundation stone at this side of the Radcliffe line. By this positive gesture of India and Pakistan government ,the one person who accumulated political capital in this Sikh majority state was Mr.Navjot Singh Sidhu. Efforts were made to deny Sidhu any credit for the opening of the corridor but people of Punjab gave him credit as was evident on the inauguration day, when the social media was replete with the comments by Punjabi people, thanking and giving credit to Navjot Singh Sidhu for this historical demand being fulfilled.
The anti Pakistan narrative doesn’t work in Punjab that has trans border ethnic, religious and linguistic affinities.
If Sidhu comes can Pargat be far behind. Pargat Singh is one of the stars from the heydays of Indian hockey team that still reign the memory of people, at least in Punjab whose sportspersons dominated the Indian hockey sky before cricket fully invaded the euphoria for sports. Pargat is bold and outspoken on matters of public concern. His occasional outbursts sends Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in tizzy especially when he airs his views on ‘not taking serious actions on the culprits of the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib,shooting at Bargari’ and the issue of drugs. These were the issues that shook the Punjab politics before the assembly elections of 2017.
During Sidhus’ controversies Pargat has reiterated many times that Sidhu remains his friend.
So consider implications and effects of a political Jugalbandi of two former sports stars who have carved a niche in people’s minds. Imagine a scenario : Two of these sports giants wearing the AAP strips on their turbans; Starts a yatra/march from either side of the Punjab end and meet at a centre point in heart of Punjab, culminating in a rally with a new ‘manifesto of hope’
It can stir the political scene of Punjab.
But Sidhu might be analysing the cost benefit ratio of his moving to AAP. Sidhu is in congres and is in good terms with Rahul and Priyanka. Remaining in the congress Mr. Sidhu can reap the benefits of a national party with foot soldiers in every town, city and village, a favourable high command in Delhi,a section of the Congress party that sympathise with him but up to the limits till Sidhu remains with the Congress.
Disadvantage of sticking with the Congress is that he has also to carry the baggage of Amarinders lethargy, of unfulfilled promises of the Congress party during the elections of 2017, i.e ‘Har Ghar Rozgar’ ,Karza Kurki Khatam Fasal Di Puri Rakam, ‘Apni Gaddi Apna Karobar’ etc. etc.
On joining AAP he can ride upon his clean image, the brand Delhi government model of Kejriwal politics that is being talked about in Punjab, the ideological committed workers and the NRI support. But for this he has to convince and surpass the ‘Old party guard’,-the so called founder members of the AAP.
So keep an eye on Sidhu and be ready for watching the episodes of interesting state elections. After Ma Matti Manush and Land of Temples in 2021, it will be ‘Apna Punjab’ in the beginning of 2022.
Ran Bahadur Singh
M-9463218996