Punjab politicians opt for SUVs, big cars like BMWs, Toyota Fortuners, Honda CRVs

CHANDIGARH: Recently, the Mumbai Police issued an alert to people owning Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs): Take good care of your vehicles as it is likely to be stolen for use in electioneering in the five states going to the polls. However, it would not be too much of an exaggeration to say several candidates in Punjab are in a position to rent out a few SUVs to other candidates.

Data submitted to the Election Commission suggests that several candidates in Punjab have SUVs and other big cars. The wide-range of high-end vehicles listed by candidates in Punjab includes BMWs, Toyota Fortuners and Honda CRVs.

According to EC data, former finance minister and People's Party of Punjab president Manpreet Singh Badal has the biggest collection of vehicles among the candidates in the fray in Punjab. Badal has listed a Honda CRV, a Nissan Jonga, a Toyota Fortuner, and a jeep each of Willys, Ford and Mahindra brands. He also has a mini truck, two tractors and two motorbikes.

Congress' Ferozepur candidate Parminder Singh has a Hyundai Terracan, Elantra, Toyota Prado, Qualis, besides four trucks. SAD candidate Sarabjeet Singh Makkar has Toyota Innova, BMW, Toyota Fortuner and several trucks. Another Congress candidate, sugar baron Rana Gurjit Singh has a Toyota Fortuner, Honda City and a Maruti-800.

The Mumbai Police advisory was that those who own big cars or SUVs like Boleros, Scorpios, Taveras and Innovas should be vigilant as they could be stolen for use in the forthcoming elections. The warning came after theft of big cars and SUVs increased in Mumbai. Several colonies in Mumbai have constraints of parking and vehicles are parked on adjoining roads. While in 2010 1,160 four-wheelers were stolen, the figure rose to 1,540 in 2011.

Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Himanshu Roy said: "It is true that prior to elections, vehicle thefts, particularly of four-wheelers, increase. We have noticed a pattern in four-wheeler thefts. We shall contact the manufacturers to find out why such vehicles are easily stolen."

If the Mumbai Police widen the probe, it would be a good idea to spare Punjab from the list because politicians there don't seem to have the need for stolen SUVs.