Capt Amarinder Singh. Tribune file
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 11
Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday thanked the people of the state for their overwhelming support, terming the victory in the Assembly election as a gift by the people on his 75th birthday. Thanking Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for reposing faith in him, Amarinder said he hoped the Centre would recognise Punjab’s demands and help them meet those.
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He said the Punjab Congress Legislature Party would meet at 2 pm on Sunday to decide the future course of action. Talking about the AAP, he said Kejriwal is like a summer storm which came and went.He told the media, “It is a gift by the people of Punjab on my 75th birthday. The sensible voters of Punjab have voted for a definite change. My priority would be to first take up the governance issues that do not have monetary implications.”Without commenting on the future of Navjot Sidhu, Amarinder said the issue of deputy CM would be decided by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.Commenting on the party’s performance, he said he was expecting around 65 seats, but the tally showed that people had reposed faith in the Congress.He reiterated his resolve to act against those selling drugs, within four weeks and implement the nine points in the agenda mentioned in the manifesto.“I am thankful to Prashant Kishor and his team for devising a winning strategy. Our rank and file have worked hard on the IPAC strategy,” he said.He said he was going to New Delhi to meet Rahul Gandhi to discuss the formation of government.
Modi congratulates Amarinder
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called up Capt Amarinder Singh to congratulate him on his party’s landslide victory in the state assembly elections.Modi spoke to Amarinder on phone to convey his regards and extend his government’s full support for the development of Punjab.The PM told Amarinder that the Centre would do its best to ensure that Punjab’s development agenda was on track.
Badal accepts defeat, to resign on Sunday
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will submit his resignation to the Governor on Sunday following his party’s defeat in the assembly election.The Shiromani Akali Dal, which ruled Punjab for 10 years in alliance with the BJP, trailed at the number three slot in the results as officials counted the votes polled in the 117 seats on Saturday.“I will go to Chandigarh tomorrow and submit my resignation to the Governor,” Badal told the media at his village Badal in Muktsar district.“I am grateful to the people of Punjab for giving me an opportunity to serve them. I am fully satisfied with all the things I was able to do. I will seek forgiveness from people for any mistakes,” Badal said.He said the reasons behind the Akali Dal’s defeat would be assessed. IANS