Sukhbir Singh Badal is to Prakash Singh Badal what Om Prakash Chautala was to Chaudhry Devi Lal in state politics. The elder Badal and the Tauji were close friends and, being feudal in mindset, anointed their sons as their successors. Sukhbir is the son and sitting MP from Faridkot constituency of Punjab and a former Union minister in the NDA government. Meticulously groomed in politics by his father, the missionary school-educated puttar is the de facto chief minister of Punjab. The ailing father bequeathed the zagirdari of the Akali Dal to his son after becoming chief minister on the ground of his being preoccupied with governance.
Besides, Sukhbir has to his credit the essential qualification, in the true tradition of modern Indian politics, of having been jailed on charges of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. His assets were valued at a huge 8 per cent of India’s projected defence expenditure for 2003-04.
After Badal took oath on March 1, there was a largescale transfer of IAS and IPS officers in Punjab. Sources confirm that his son handpicked officers for every coveted posting, including Chief Secretary to CM and the state police chief. His complete disregard for merit has left upright and neutral officers feeling demoralised.
Even veteran Akali Dal member Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Cooperation Minister, has been completely sidelined by Sukhbir in the party and the government. Kanwaljit has been Prakash Singh Badal’s real political strength in the past and a popular figure among the party cadre. Now party workers are wondering if he will become a casualty of dynastic rule or whether he will strike back at an appropriate time.
