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Kakoo-Tikkoo di Congress Gaddi
Chugs into 2004

S P Singh

MUCH like Hamara Bajaj, the Punjab Congress is fast becoming not just Chunnu Munnu de papa di gaddi, what with the kakas doing the back-seat driving as the fractured state unit chugs into 2004. 

Throughout the political crises gripping the Amarinder government, it was the young brigade which was calling the shots, working out the logistics, and doing the actual hard sell.

The Congressman who has risen through the ranks are increasingly becoming a rarity, a situation the party members rue about but do little to mend as they run errands for those to the manor born who've taken to politics, forgive the cliché, like fish to water. 

Here's a list of your upcoming leaders: Sunny, Chindi, Rainee, Kakku, Mickey, Tikkoo… Last month, virtually every corridor of Punjab Bhawan and each room of the Kapurthala House was swarming with such wannabe politicians who are looking for the window of opportunity to step into the limelight themselves.  

Take the top warriors, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's son Tikkoo aka Raninder Singh is well-known for backroom politics along with other family members, just like Rajinder Kaur Bhattal's son Rahul and son-in-law Vikram aka Lalli, who've been hovering around her throughout the crisis.  

Nikku Bikram, son of B.I.S. Chahal, who was No 1 on the hit list of rebels, is almost an old hand at the game, having remained active ever since his father grabbed the opportunity to advise the CM. It's ditto for Heera, the son of Rana Gurmit Sodhi, the man who's always a step behind the CM. 

Several other progeny are already deeply entrenched. Minister Ch Santokh Singh's only son Sunny is papa’s nominee on the District Planning Board. Minister Ch Jagjit Singh's son Chindi is Chairman of the Zila Parishad, Jalandhar, while his daughter-in-law is Sarpanch of Dhaliwal Kadian village. The entire family has been quite active in the crises.  

MLA Raj Kumar Gupta's son Kaku is a councilor, Minister Avtar Henry's son Kaka ji is a member of the Improvement Board, Jalandhar.  

Minister Tej Prakash and MLA Gurkanwal ventured into politics because of their father Late CM Beant Singh. Now his son and her son are actively following the tradition.  

Minister Jagmohan Kang's son was spotted throughout the crises, and is said to have worked out the logistics for the dissident dinner at Chandigarh Club. Ramesh Dogra’s son Micky is president of the Hoshiarpur district Youth Congress.  

Parliamentary Secretary Kanwaljit Lalli, who returned to the Patiala fort on Wednesday, had several interests to guard, including those of brother Sukhvinder Sukha, a District Planning Board member. 

Ministers Khushal Behl's and Ragunath Sahaipuri's sons, both called Raman, are perhaps two of the most proactive participants. It's another matter that many have protested their proxy participation in ministerial decision making.  

Harbans Lal's son who quit Youth Congress district president ship after his father lost a ministerial berth, has enough reason to be active. In fact, the entire family is contributing to boost its standing since his mother too has kicked away her Mehla Congress office.  

Some spouses too have been taking part in this game of intrigue. A deputy-director husband of an MLA was ensconced in the Punjab Bhawan throughout the last month along with a 'neutral' minister's wife, who contributed her mite to guard her husband's interests.  

The brother triumvirate of Dimpa-Tinku-Raju is only too well known for its active politicking, even though one of them wears a regulation uniform. Minister Gurchet Bhullar's son has been active too – after all, he is a serious contender for the Punjab Youth Congress president ship which fell vacant during the crisis, bringing many other Tinku-Titoos-Balla-Tony-Autoo into politics.  

What's state party Chief H.S. Hanspal's own view on the matter? Well, he has contributed it already – in the form of his son Tikka ji Namdhari, forever tagging along with him.■

January 1, 2004

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