Awaz-e-Punjab loses sheen, Bains brothers mull hoisting own flag

Wednesday, 12/10/2016

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=166390&boxid=59052&uid=&dat=2016-10-12

Chandigarh : Observing the recently-formed front ‘Awaz-e-Punjab’ not going to sustain in the forthcoming Punjab Assembly polls, for the major allies not seeming much willing to remain assembled under one roof, the two independent Ludhiana MLA brothers, Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, have again started mulling over contesting the elections under their own banner.

And even if the things inch towards an alliance with some big party, as it is expected largely, Bains brothers want to have their say by projecting themselves as a party not just two individuals, informed a close aide of Bains brothers.

Highly-placed sources in the Election Commission of India (ECI) informed that Bains brothers of Ludhiana had applied for the registration of their party about two months back. Declaring the younger Bains, Simarjit Singh Bains, as the party president, a group of 100 people had submitted affidavit and resolution with the ECI seeking the registration of the party.

In the compliance of the formality, Bains brothers reportedly submitted three names for the choice of the ECI. The names, as learnt, are Insaaf Party Punjab, Lok Insaaf Party and Punjab Insaaf Party. A representative of Bains brothers, who submitted the documents with the ECI, informed that they were willing to get the ECI stamp on ‘Lok Insaaf Party’. The ECI is expected to give its decision within this week.

Bains brothers had earlier created a Non Governmental Organitation (NGO) ‘Team Insaaf’, which used to raise public issues. The activists of the group used to wear ‘Basanti’ colour turbans and ribbons to symbolise themselves as the followers of martyr Bhagat Singh on certain occasions.

It is pertinent to mention here that Bains brothers, in alliance with rebel SAD MLA Pargat Singh and rebel BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, had recently formed a front ‘Awaz-e-Punjab’ but against the hype, the forum head Navjot Singh Sidhu announced that the forum would not contest the polls.

Later, the reports started landing that Pargat Singh and Sidhu were in touch with the AICC leadership, which led to a general notion that the two could go in Congress fold anytime. Though the speculations of Bains brothers too going with Congress are also doing the rounds, finding the things all uncertain at this stage, the two MLA brothers don’t want to take risk.

Trouble in sight for Chhotepur’s fledgling APP

The sacked convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sucha Singh Chhotepur who has recently floated his own political outfit Aapna Punjab Party (APP) is expected to face an ‘unexpected’ trouble in the days ahead.

Sources in the Election Commission of India (ECI) informed that about 10 days back Chhotepur’s aides submitted their application and affidavit with the office concerned, seeking the registration of the party name.

The documents were submitted well in compliance with the requisite manner but during the process the ECI officials found that the name which Sucha Singh Chhotepur sought for the registration of his party had already been applied by someone, informed ECI sources.