Even as political parties have commenced their campaigns for elections to the new legislature, which are expected to be notified in less than a year’s time, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has inducted a brand new face to his council of ministers.
Capt. Balbir Singh Bath, who represents the Hargobindpur Assembly constituency and has long been viewed as a fence-sitter of sorts with reports of hob-nobbing with the Opposition Congress, was sworn in as a Cabinet minister.
He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by governor Shivraj V. Patil at a brief and somewhat thinly-attended ceremony at Punjab Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh. Observers said Capt. Bath’s induction could well be a political measure to forestall possible attrition within the ranks of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.

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Meet held to revive struggle
age CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD

Jan. 16: For the first time since the submission of the Justice Srikrishna Committee Report, leaders cutting across party lines came together on Sunday to revive the slogan of a joint struggle for the Telangana state. The meeting gained significance in view of the road blockades proposed by the Joint Action Committee and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti on Monday.
The state police, meanwhile, intensified patrolling on all national highways leading to Hyderabad.