Day of Defeats for Stalwarts in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Heads of several top leaders in Punjab tumbled in dust in unprecedented upsets in the mid-term election as results were announced this evening, with the Congress party emerging bruised, securing only 18 seats out of 63 declared until midnight.

From The Tribune archives

From Our Special Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 10

Heads of several top leaders in Punjab tumbled in dust in unprecedented upsets in the mid-term election as results were announced this evening, with the Congress party emerging bruised, securing only 18 seats out of 63 declared until midnight.

The Akali Dal was forging ahead triumphantly with 28 victories already registered in what seemed a landslide win for the party. The Jan Sangh had claimed six seats, the CPI (M), the CPI (R), and the SSP two each, and the PSP, and the Swatantra Party, one each. Three Independents has also registered successes.

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The Akali Dal Jan Sangh alliance was tonight 19 seats short of absolute majority in the 104 member State Assembly.

The results of 40 constituencies will be announced tomorrow.

Those whom the electorate has rejected included Mr Mohan La, Mr Prabodh Chandra, Mr Niranjan Singh Talib, Mr Prithvi Singh “Azad” and Mr Gurbachan Singh Bajwa, former Congress Ministers Mr Gian Singh Rarewala, former PEPSU Chief Minister who left the Congress to join the Akali Dal on the election eve; Mr Shamsher Singh Josh, Punjab Kisan Sabha chief, Mr Teja Singh ‘Swatantar’ the veteran CPI leader; Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, all-India leader of the CPI (M): Dr Baldev Prakash, the Punjab Jan Sangh Chief and Mr Lal Chand Sabharwal, Vice-President of the Punjab Jan Sangh.

Mr Rajinder Singh “Sparrow”, former United Front Minister, was defeated in Jullundur Cantt. And Mr Jangir Singh Joga, leader of the CPI group in the dissolved Assembly, lost to an Akali in Mansa.

Mr Harbans Lal, former Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, was again defeated at Bhatinda, this time as an Independent Mr Jagan Nath Kaushal, former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and a Congress nominee, lost at Patiala.

Mr Gurnam Singh, former United Front Chief Minister, won bands down at Quila Raipur, with 34,642 votes against the former Janta Party Chief Minister, Mr Lachhman Singh Gill, who secured only 16, 084 votes.

Notable Success:

Among the notable successes were those of Mr Satya Pal Dang, former UF Food Minister, Mr Basant Singh, General Secretary of the Punjab Swatantra Party, at Dakala, in a seat held previously by the Maharaja of Patiala, against Mrs Virpal Kaur (Congress), wife of the late Col. Raghbir Singh former PEPSU Chief Minister and that of Mr Harcharan Singh Brar