Mamata Banerjee to campaign in state

New Delhi: Known as the stormy petrel for long, West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee will test political waters in Punjab. The party on Friday confirmed that she would hold a series of rallies for party nominees. A two-day schedule of Mamata's visit to the state, beginning January 28, has been prepared. She will visit Barnala and Malerkotla, but the number of venues could be increased, depending on public demand, a party source said. The party is gearing up for a roadshow by her, subject to the EC’s approval. TMC vice-president and MP Mukul Roy, who is in charge of Punjab affairs, will camp in Punjab along with six party MPs. Roy told The Tribune that he would camp in Punjab from January 25 to 31. Ravi S Singh

Photo ID cards a must for voting

Chandigarh: Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh has appealed to the voters to carry elector photo identity cards (EPIC) or any other authorised document bearing their photo to establish their identity at the polling station before casting their vote on February 4. The election staff has been directed to distribute authenticated photo voter slips to the electors before the polling day. TNS

NRI delegation to support Congress

Chandigarh: A group of NRIs from the UK and Canada is landing over the next two days to support the Congress. One of the delegations is likely to be flagged off by AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi from Delhi over the weekend. While around 250 NRIs under the aegis of the Indian Overseas Congress, UK, are arriving over the next two days, more than 150 NRIs will come from Canada to be a part of the Congress campaign. Amanpreet Aulakh of the Indian Overseas Congress (Canada) is among those who have already reached India. Indian Overseas Congress (UK) president Daljit Singh Sahota, in a letter to Karan Singh, chairman of the AICC Foreign Affairs Cell, said NRIs from the UK would travel to India to participate in the elections. Sahota said they had requested Rahul Gandhi to flag off the bus from Delhi on January 23 or 24. TNS

Akali supporters jostle for snacks 

Dharamkot (Moga):  Akali candidate Jathedar Tota Singh arranged snacks and tea for his supporters during a rally addressed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here on Friday, but the supplies were not enough to meet the rush. Most of the people were seen jostling with each other to get snacks and tea. In order to escape the people's wrath, the cooks ran away and locked themselves in the office of a commission agent in the grain market, where the rally was organised. TNS

Kejri rally disrupted, 13 from Delhi booked 

Fazilka: In al, 16 persons, including 13 Delhi residents, have been booked under Section 188 of the IPC by the police for reportedly disrupting AAP convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejirwal’s rally here on Thursday. When they started raising slogans against Kejriwal, the police rounded up the accused and took them to the police station. It has been alleged in the FIR that the accused indulged in hooliganism at the rally and defied the orders of the District Magistrate, Fazilka. OC

Now, Manpreet’s cousin to back Cong 

Muktsar: Jagjit Singh ‘Honey Fattanwala’, cousin of PPCC vice-president Manpreet Singh Badal, on Friday announced his support for Congress candidate Karan Kaur Brar from the Muktsar Assembly constituency. Jagjit had expressed resentment over the allotment of ticket to her as he was also in the race for it. Harish Chaudhary, secretary, AICC, and Karan Kaur on Friday visited Jagjit’s residence and persuaded him to back Brar. TNS

Rinwa not to contest as Independent 

Fazilka: Rebel Congress leader Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, who had filed papers from Fazilka as an Independent after being denied ticket, has announced to withdraw his candidature in favour of Congress’ Davinder Ghubaya. Rinwa made the announcement in the presence of Punjab affairs in charge Harish Chaudhary. OC

PPCC general secy quits party 

Ropar: PPCC general secretary Harbhag Singh Saini, who had been protesting against the Congress’ decision to give the ticket to Brinder Singh Dhillon from Ropar, resigned from the party here on Friday. Ironically, the former DCC chief had on Thursday declared he would abide by the party’s decision. TNS