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Punjab: Final
Results |
|
Party |
Leads |
Wins |
Total |
|
SAD+BJP |
0 |
68 |
68 |
|
Congress |
0 |
15 |
46 |
|
PPP |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Others |
0 |
3 |
3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Majority |
59 |
Total |
117/117 |
Chandigarh:
Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
alliance created history in the state's politics as it stunned the
Congress Tuesday to retain power for a second consecutive term -
the first such instance in the state.
Beating the traditional anti-incumbency factor, the combine bagged
a comfortable majority with 68 seats in the 117-member Punjab
assembly as results were declared. It is for the first time in
over four decades that a government has been able to come back to
power for a consecutive term in Punjab.
Surprisingly, the combine managed to bag the same number of seats
it had got in the 2007 assembly polls - 68.
The Akali Dal increased its score from 49 seats in 2007 to 56 this
time. However, alliance partner BJP's tally came down - from 19
seats to just 12 this time.
The Congress, which was very hopeful of coming back to power this
time, was "surprised" by the results and ended with 46 seats. In
2007, the party had bagged 44 seats.
"I want to thank the people of Punjab for the faith reposed in us
again. I don't have the words to express my gratitude to them.
They have given us such a big victory," a visibly happy Chief
Minister Parkash Singh Badal, 84, told the media at his palatial
residence in Badal village, 270 km from here.
With his son, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal - who is
also the deputy chief minister - by his side, Badal senior said:
"There are two reasons for our victory. We went to the people with
the agenda of peace and development in the state. I am happy that
we have been able to live up to their expectations."
Badal senior also announced that he and his entire family will pay
obeisance at the holiest of Sikh shrines, Harmandar Sahib,
(popularly called Golden Temple) in Amritsar Wednesday.
"We will work harder (in the new government," Badal announced.
The Akali Dal and BJP are likely to hold a meeting here Thursday
before the next government is sworn-in.
The Congress, which was very hopeful of returning to power this
time, accepted defeat in the election.
"We accept our defeat. We will analyze where things went wrong. We
could not win, we will do introspection for our defeat," Punjab
Congress president Amarinder Singh told the media at his residence
in Chandigarh.
"I take full responsibility for the defeat. This result is very
surprising," Amarinder Singh, a former chief minister, said.
"I wish the government well. I hope they will perform well for
Punjab. It needs good governance," he added.
Former finance minister and People's Party of Punjab (PPP)
president Manpreet Badal lost from two seats, Maur and Gidderbaha,
while his party failed to open its account. Manpreet remained
inaccessible to the media till Tuesday evening.
Manpreet's father, Gurdas Badal, who contested against his elder
brother Parkash Singh Badal from the Lambi assembly seat, lost his
security deposit in the election.
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