Once upon a time they were friends, but now two former IAS officers are pitted against each other in an electoral battle from Fatehgarh Sahib (reserve) constituency in Punjab.
These days the ex-colleagues are trading barbs over their respective contribution to Punjab. Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Darbara Singh Guru claims that Congress nominee Amar Singh, who served in Madhya Pradesh, has come from "outside", whereas he himself served in Punjab.
Singh questions Guru for his contribution towards Punjab, asking whether he framed any scheme for the state when he served as a bureaucrat.
Guru was the principal secretary to former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Amar Singh was the principal secretary to former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh.
Guru and Singh knew each other very well. Whenever Guru visited Bhopal for any official assignment, he would have meals at Amar Singh's residence.
"Being in service, we knew each other. Now our parties are different," said Singh.
Guru said, "I have spent my entire life serving the people of Punjab. I have been principal secretary to the chief minister and I know the functioning here (in Punjab) very well and how to get work done."
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