'It is unfortunate that when the state is going through a financial mess, the Badal family is clamouring for posts. They have turned the government and the party into a private corporation,' Congress legislator from Nabha Randeep Singh told IANS.

'One has to see Punjab's interests. But in their case, vested interests (of the Badal family) are primary and the state's interests are secondary. People who have elected them are the sufferers,' he added.

Even some ruling Akali Dal and alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are upset that the Badal family was only interested in 'dynastic politics' and was ignoring other senior leaders.

Akali leaders were particularly upset when Sukhbir's brother-in-law Majithia, a political upstart and first-time legislator, was made a full cabinet minister in the Badal government in March 2007.

'The Badals cannot see beyond their own family. There is no dearth of good leaders in the Akali Dal who can become ministers. Many of the present ministers are complete non-performers,' an angry Akali Dal legislator told IANS requesting anonymity.

The BJP, which partners the Akali Dal government, too is upset with Badal that its demand for the post of deputy chief minister for one of its ministers has not been accepted.

'The ministers and legislators (from the Badal family) must be costing the state a fortune,' said Ludhiana trader Amritpal Singh.

(Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at jaideep.s@ians.in)