The Congress better put its act together fast in Punjab. For it has a lot of ground to cover in the key border state. Time’s short and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), its main contender for the anti-incumbency vote is making good use of its first-mover advantage. The AAP was the first party to announce candidates for the 112 seats it is contesting in the state assembly, having left the remaining five to the Lok Insaf Party of the Ludhiana-based Bains brothers. The Akali Dal-BJP combine are through as well with their choice of candidates.That makes the Congress the prime laggard. The party hasn’t fielded nominees for over a dozen seats even ten days after the January 4 announcement of the poll schedule. “They better hurry up to get their infantry in place. Or else it’ll be a repeat of 2012,” said a party veteran. The Congress’s campaign has indeed floundered in recent weeks with Amarinder Singh captive in Delhi over ticket disputes while the AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal electioneered at a frenzied pace.
For the party to remain in contest, its campaign needs a booster doze to pick up pace -- and capture popular imagination.Now what could that be: Navjot Singh Sidhu ends months of suspense, joins the party? Sonia Gandhi and Rahul formally endorse Amarinder as the party’s chief ministerial candidate?A puzzle really it is that how a party with pretentions to power in the state could be so nonchalant on the leadership question and timely candidatures. In many ways, it’s akin to joining the battle without a general and full strength of foot-soldiers. It is well known that Amarinder has a mind of his own. About time the Congress’s central leadership realised that he also has connect of his own-- beyond the party appeal—with the Punjab electorate. Ask a diehard Congress voter as to which side he was and he’d invariably say: “Captain naal …..”Barring certain leaders who have a personal rapport with their constituents, Amarinder is the Congress’s foremost calling card in the state.
A delay in his projection as the CM candidate would hurt the party’s campaign in what many see as a repeat of the 2012 poll mistake.The sooner it’s done the better it would be. The Captain, so to speak, should be named the general while he kick-starts the second phase of his electioneering with a visit on January 15 to Mehraj, his ancestral village in Bhatinda.If Sidhu stops playing hard to get ---and coincides his arrival with the Captain’s designation--- it will add ammunition to the party’s poll fire. That wouldn’t be short of a miracle, and the Congress needs a miracle! Browse by Brand4 baby Car Seats, Booster Seats Free 24Hr Delivery* On All Orders over £49.99! Hauck Carry Me Car Boot Organiser Strong & Durable ✔ Stain Resistant ✔ Water Resistant ✔ Order in the next: For Express Wednesday delivery The Hauck Carry Me is fantastic for keeping all of baby’s items organised and easily accessible when required. Ideal for holidays or trips away, the Carry Me is made from tough, (stain and water resistant) material and has a strong zipper running around three sides of the bag at the top edge which makes sure that the contents stay securely stowed.
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My scheming started again with the 2015 GLA-Class. I wondered if the three of us would fare better in the subcompact crossover, which starts at $32,225 including a destination charge, than in the CLA-Class. Related: 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Expert Review On paper, the GLA250 offers more passenger room and cargo space than the CLA250 thanks to its crossover body style. It's no surprise that the GLA250's cargo area is larger at 17.2 cubic feet behind the backseat compared to the CLA250's 13.1 cubic feet. My stroller fit in the GLA250's cargo area easily, but in the CLA250 I had to remove one of the stroller's wheels to fit it. When the GLA250's 60/40-split rear seats are folded, there's 43.6 cubic feet of cargo space. The GLA250 also boasts an additional 6 inches of rear legroom (33.9 inches) over the CLA250, which is impressive considering both cars have the same 106.3-inch wheelbase. The GLA250 is fun to drive, but it doesn't have the same heft and solidity on the road as others in the Mercedes lineup.
At times, the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission shifted harshly and hunted for the right gear. Coupled with the engine's jarring stop-start technology, the drive experience was much less refined than other Mercedes-Benz models I've driven in the past. My family noticed the GLA250's roominess during our test drive. One of the biggest differences is in the backseat: The GLA250 has 35.4 inches of rear headroom — a 3-inch increase over the CLA250 — thanks to its taller height of 60 inches. The additional headroom makes the crossover a lot less claustrophobic and helps when installing a child-safety seat. However, my daughter had a difficult time getting out of the crossover because her car seat filled a large portion of the backseat — just as it did in the CLA-Class. When my husband rode with us and slid the front passenger seat back to a comfortable position, my daughter had only a narrow space to slink out of the car seat. To remedy this, my husband either had to slide the front seat forward before unstrapping her or she had to exit the car on the opposite side.
When my husband stayed home, my daughter and I had no problems getting her in and out of her car seat. While I can't exactly call the GLA-Class spacious, its close quarters weren't a deal-breaker for me like they were in the CLA-Class. However, I've decide the GLA250 doesn't work for my family because of two things: visibility and price. When in Reverse, I couldn't see a thing. My test car had the available blind spot warning system ($550), but it's almost a crime it doesn't come standard at this price point. I relied on the system heavily as well as the backup camera, and even then I still had a few close calls. The GLA250 starts at $32,225, but my all-wheel-drive test car, which had the creature comforts I enjoy as a parent — power liftgate, leather seats for easier clean up, Comand multimedia system with navigation and a backup camera — cost $45,935. That price tag doesn't justify the excuses I'd be making for the GLA250 on a daily basis while on family duty. photos by Carrie Kim