CHANDIGARH: The Election Commission on Saturday announced single-phase elections in Punjab on January 30. The term of the assembly in Punjab, with 117 constituencies of which 34 are reserved, ends on March 14.
The January 30 date for holding elections to the legislative assembly of Punjab may has left painfully less time for political parties to prepare for the big fight ahead, but leaders of all parties hailed the code of conduct which has come into force in Punjab with immediate effect.
Contrary to expectations earlier that the elections would be held after mid February, the immediate imposition of code of conduct in the state has created jubilation in the Congress and People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) camps.
Reacting to the announcement of implementation of code of conduct, Manpreet Badal, estranged nephew of CM P S Badal and PPP chief, said, “The era of misconduct of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government is over.” Referring to his uncle and cousin brother Sukhbir Badal, Manpreet said, “Code of misconduct authored by the father-son duo is over but people will have to remain vigilant since the habit of misconduct always remains entrenched within individuals and governments.”
Chief Minister P S Badal, in turn, claimed, “Everything has gone as we wished. I am really happy and thrilled as if this was my first election. The political atmosphere in the state today indicates that this will be the biggest victory of my career for the SAD and the BJP.” Badal claimed that it was Congress which was “fluttering their weary and jaded wings in a void” after the announcement of elections.
General secretary of SAD D S Cheema said, “We are already in poll mode. We are the only ones to have announced our final candidates, nearly 50% of them.”
Their opponents in the field, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh said, “The sooner the better. It is already a festive mood in Congress. The recent 40 rallies held during the past one and a half month have already mobilized the cadres who are already celebrating.”
News Source: Times of India
