Bhattal, though, is on a stronger wicket. At least 33 out of the 64 legislators, including some ministers, have been demanding Amarinder Singh’s removal. The dissidents who camped in Delhi for nine days were sent back to Chandigarh by Sonia Gandhi. But Bhattal promptly announced that since she was unwell she could not return. She and her clutch of dissidents are reportedly holed up in Surajkund, Haryana, to prevent any poaching by the Amarinder camp. Bhattal also got a reprieve of sorts in the corruption case against her in a Chandigarh court, where charges were to be framed against her on December 18. The court has adjourned the matter till January 7. This case, which she alleges was deliberately reopened by the government to "harass" her, is one of her main grouses against the chief minister. As the uncertainty over the leadership issue continues, governance has come to a virtual halt in Punjab.