Rahul rattles NDA, upsets allies
Fresh overture to the Left & like-minded leaders

New Delhi, May 5
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today caused a flutter in political circles with his comments that he had respect for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and TDP leader Chandra Babu Naidu. Addressing a press conference here, he also declared that there was a lot of common ground with these leaders and the Left and that Left parties, he was confident, would back Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister in the post-poll scenario.

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, in Chennai, refused to comment. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said, ‘thanks’ and TDP spokesmen in Hyderabad claimed to be gratified at Rahul Gandhi’s compliments.

It upset erstwhile allies like RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who declared that Nitish Kumar had done nothing praiseworthy. It also rattled the BJP, which hastily drafted the Bihar Chief Minister to campaign in Punjab for the NDA. Nitish Kumar would campaign for the NDA in Ludhiana and Jalandhar on May 10, the BJP announced in the evening, in a bid to quell speculation that JD (U), expected to do well in Bihar, could lend support to the UPA after the poll.

Congress is hallucinating. They think country's politics is so simple... I am sure by next fortnight we will give a befitting reply. — Arun Jaitley

With only the last two phases of the polling to go and no single political party slated to get an absolute majority, the Congress set the ball rolling for a post-poll realignment of forces.

Clearly aware that the party’s old allies will not be able to bring in the requisite numbers, Nehru-Gandhi scion and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi made overtures to estranged the UPA partner - the Left parties - and reach out to new allies like NDA member, Janata Dal (U), evoking widespread criticism from the Opposition BJP and a blunt rebuff from the Communists.

They are nervous… I don’t think the Left will oblige them this time. — AB Bardhan

Addressing a packed press conference on the eve of the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi made some extremely flattering references to Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar and, surprisingly, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu with regard to the performance of their governments.

“I respect Naidu and Nitish Kumar…the intention (of working for the people) is there. I am not saying only the Congress had leaders who have done good work, there are such leaders in the opposition,” he said. He also referred to the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and Nitish Kumar’s party as “like-minded parties”.

Thanks ! I thank Rahul Gandhi for the praise. I am not looking right or left. It is good that adversaries have also begun to take notice. — Nitish Kumar

He acknowledged that the Congress and the Communists differed on various issues like the Indo-US nuclear deal and key economic policies but, at the same time, maintained that the grand old party had a lot of meeting ground with the Left. Stating that the Congress is open to post-poll alliances, the AICC general secretary gave clear signs that it is willing to work out an arrangement with the Left parties.

“I am confident the Left parties will support the Manmohan Singh government”, he said. He was sure the Left would not only accept a Congress-led government but also Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister as he reiterated that Singh continued to be the prime ministerial candidate of the UPA and also the allies’ choice for the top job.

Rahul’s comments on the Left as well as parties, which are outside the UPA fold, is a clear admission that the Congress is on the look-out for new post-poll allies as its old partners like the RJD, the LJP and the DMK are on a sticky wicket.

The fear in the Congress is that it will fall way short of the half-way mark even if it emerges as the single largest party. In such a scenario, it will be forced to do business with the Left again and rope in new allies. However, it could prove to be difficult.

The Congress will alienate the Trinamool Congress if it patches up with the Left parties. Similarly, the DMK will not be happy in case the Congress ties up with Jayalalitha’s AIADMK. Its old ally, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, will not be, too, pleased if the Congress establishes contact with Nitish Kumar.

Never seen a weak Sikh in life: Rahul

General secretary, AICC, Rahul Gandhi addresses a rally in Barnala on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Barnala, May 5
Criticising the BJP leadership for calling Dr Manmohan Singh a weak Prime Minister, general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) Rahul Gandhi said today that no Sikh was weak and he had never seen any weak Sikh in his life. He said the Congress would make Manmohan Prime Minister for two more terms.

Rahul also said no leader could be stronger than Manmohan, who had signed the nuclear deal in the larger interest of the country even by putting his Prime Ministership and government at stake. On the other hand, strongmen of the BJP in the NDA government had not only released three militants, but also one of them accompanied the militants to a safer place, he added.

Rahul was addressing a huge rally of Congress candidate from the Sangrur parliamentary constituency Vijay Inder Singla at the new grain market here.

Seeking votes for Singla, Rahul said this Lok Sabha election was not Singla’s election, but an election of Manmohan, who had done Punjab as well as the country proud in the world.

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab assembly Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, acting president of the Punjab unit of the Congress Lal Singh, MLA from Barnala Kewal Singh Dhillon and Singla also addressed the rally.

However, chairman of the Congress election campaign committee Amarinder Singh was not present at the rally.

As a mark of honour, Singla presented a sword to Rahul. Haryana minister Randip Singh Surjewala and MLAs from Sangrur and Barnala districts were also present.

It is Manmohan vs Badal
Chandigarh, May 5
Though neither Prime Minister Manmohan Singh nor Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal are among the contestants for the 15th Lok Sabha (LS), yet the two-phase polling for 13 Punjab seats is heading for a virtual referendum on the popularity of two of the tallest Sikhs.

Congress candidate Sukhdev Singh Libra on a visit to Payal on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Charanjit Singh Atwal of the SAD campaigns in Koom Kalan village on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Patiala-Jakhal rail link is poll issue
Patran (Patiala), May 5
It’s rail link from Patiala to Jakhal through Patran, Samana and Ghagga that has become a major poll issue in the Patiala parliamentary segment. The two main contenders in the Patiala Parliamentary election arena, sitting MP Preneet Kaur of the Congress and former MP and Akali candidate Prof Prem Singh Chandumjara, have been facing anxious queries on the railway-link issue from voters in this belt.

COMMUNITY

Basic amenities in Kandi in shambles
Garhshankar, May 5
Even as the nation is going for the 15th Lok Sabha elections, the plight of people in the parched, barren Kandi area of Punjab remains unchanged since pre-Independence times.

Cultural centre in Batalvi’s memory remains incomplete
Batala, May 5
Litterateurs and art lovers rue that though leaders of various political parties are not leaving any stone unturned to woo electors, they have failed to complete and maintain the Shiv Batalvi Cultural Centre here dedicated to legendary Punjabi language poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi.

Inside Babudom
He was ‘Jathedar Vaishnav’
Chandigarh, May 5
Prafullachandra Harsukhrai Vaishnav belonged to that rare brand of public servants who never retire from public service. Though he came from Junagarh, Gujarat, he made Punjab his home. “He was more Punjabi than most of us,” recalls his two-batch junior Manohar Singh Gill, a former Chief Election Commissioner and currently Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports.

Improve medical facilities in jails, panel tells govt
Chandigarh, May 5
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has asked the state to improve medical facilities in the jails across the state. In a recent order issued by the commission for the Central Jail, Patiala, its members have recommended the setting up of a laboratory for conducting basic tests.

Exercise Hind Shakti concludes
Army’s blitzkrieg ability tested
Chandigarh, May 5
Exercise Hind Shakti, a major war game undertaken by the Indian Army, reportedly achieved its aim to conduct offensive operations by its premier strike corps, the Kharga Corps, in a developed terrain. Held along the Barnala-Jagraon axis in Punjab, the 72-hour long exercise concluded today.

More Central forces sent to Bathinda
Bathinda, May 5
More para-military forces have been rushed here for deployment at polling booths on May 7 in the wake of fears expressed by the opposition Congress and other parties that ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) activists might try to rig the elections in this prestigious constituency.

Sikh panel dismisses plea against SGPC secy
Amritsar, May 5
The Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission (SGJC) today dismissed a petition of Baldev Singh Sirsa, special secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pradhani), seeking the dismissal of Dalmegh Singh as secretary of the SGPC for allegedly addressing an election rally in favour of a candidate of the ruling Akali Dal at his native village.

Bathinda boy clears civil services
Bathinda, May 5
Bathinda boy Nitin Bansal has cleared the civil services examination and been selected for the IAS. He has secured the 63rd position. Nitin, an MBBS doctor, had last year cleared the exam for IPS and was presently undergoing training in Hyderabad.

COURTS

Don’t be hyper-technical, HC to quasi judicial bodies
Chandigarh, May 5
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that “quasi judicial authorities” should endeavour to decide a petition on merits, instead of rejecting it on hyper-technical grounds.

Selection of anganwari workers
Court seeks original record
Chandigarh, May 5
The high court today summoned the original record in the one selection, two lists case. The apparent abnormality in the selections of anganwari workers had not escaped the high court’s notice.

CRIME