Influential industrialist played key role in Punjab's plan allocation enhancement

BARNALA: The elated Punjab government officials might be projecting a whopping 22 per cent jump in state' annual plan allocation for current fiscal as a big achievement of state government but many might do not know that backdoor diplomacy by people than Punjab CM has ensured it.
Punjab industrialist and state planning board vice-chairman Rajinder Gupta is learnt to have used his clout in Delhi's corridors of power and his close proximity to Planning Commission vice-chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in enhancing the annual plan allocation to Rs 14,000 crore up from previous year' plan of Rs 11,520 crore.
The Planning Commission, only few days earlier have told the Punjab officials of pegging the plan at Rs 12,800 crore but earnest efforts by Gupta is learnt to have played a decisive role in convincing the powers that be, in enhancing the plan to Rs 14,000 crore apart from Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal' own efforts by putting forward many points needing enhancing of plan. Gupta was available with the CM while he finalized the plan with Ahluwalia on Monday but, he remained under wraps.
Highly placed sources said going by Gupta' clout in Union government, Punjab CM PS Badal had been using his services in getting certain benefits from the Center, and going by it Badals desire to groom him to contest next parliamentary elections on SAD ticket. Gupta' resignation from his Trident group board as MD is also being seen as a step in this direction.