SAD-BJP alliance swept to power

Tribune News Service

Chandigah, Feb 9 

After securing an absolute majority, the SAD-BJP alliance tonight raced past the two-thirds mark and was heading towards an unprecedented and historic three-fourths majority in the 117-member Punjab Assembly.

In its inexorable march towards forming the next government in the state, the SAD-BJP combine swept aside almost all before it, decimating the ruling Congress party and humbling both the rival Akali Dal led by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann and the BSP headed by Mr Kanshi Ram.

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According to the latest party position, SAD, which contested 92 seats, has won 72. The BJP which contested 22 seats, won 18 and was leading in one. If the alliance maintained this trend, as seemed likely, it would pick up 91 seats in the 117-member House, well past the three-fourth majority mark of 87 seats.

The Congress, which had 87 seats in the outgoing House, faced a virtual rout but salvaged some of its prestige when the Chief Minister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, was declared elected from Lehragaga constituency, defeating her nearest SAD rival, Mr Garja Singh, by a convincing margin.