Who will Win The Race?

Akali Dal-BJP alliance all set to capture power
Despite some weak pockets in the Malwa hinterland, the ShiromaniAkali Dal - Bharatiya Janata Party alliance is all set to capture power inthe Assembly elections slated for February 13. The alliance is strong inMajha and Doaba regions. Interestingly, all the stalwarts in the raceincluding the Akali Dal chief and the former chief minister, Mr ParkashSingh Badal, the Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh, the Deputy ChiefMinister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and the Pradesh Congress CommitteePresident, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, are in hot waters. Both the contendersto power are resorting to populism. The Congress faces stronganti-incumbency and price rise has emerged as a big issue. Neither the PrimeMinister Dr Manmohan Singh nor the Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi hassucceeded in boosting the chances of the ruling party. The decision of theElection Commission to postpone the elections in Beas has also come as a bigset back to the Congress. The Akali Dal General Secretary, Mr Sukhbir SinghBadal, has emerged as the star campaigner. He is in total command of thehigh pitch campaign. Of course, the support extended by the political wingof Sacha Sauda which commands influence on some seats in the Malwa region,to the Congress might somewhat upset the Akali calculations.The Congress campaign had started on an aggressive note with the VikasYatra undertaken by Capt. Amarinder Singh which had to be cut short with theannouncement of the elections and the imposition of the code of conduct. Itsimpact fizzled out at the Chief Minister remained away from the scene forabout two weeks. The Congress failed to maintain the tempo. And the Akaliswere waiting for the announcement of the elections. Mr. Badal also took thelead in the announcement of the candidates which enabled the party to makean early start.In the Malwa region, especially the cotton belt, Capt. Amarinder Singh hassucceeded in making some inroads in the traditional Akali bastion, mainlybecause of the introduction of the Bt cotton, which, according to one schoolof thought, might prove to be disastrous in the long run. This variety hasincreased the income of the cotton growers as it is les vulnerable toinsects. The Congress has no other strong point. The poor response to DrManmohan Singh is an indication of the state of affairs. The card of thefirst Sikh Prime Minister is not working. The rallies addressed by MrsGandhi had better attendance. The main slogan given by the slogan party isdevelopment. But then the facts speak differently as the first four years ofthis government were characterized by non-performance. The party adopted theeconomic policies which were perceived as anti-people. Moreover, thegovernment failed to create jobs in the first four years. The mega projectslanded the ruling party in trouble as the charges of corruption startedflying. Badal Junior nailed the government when he succeeded in gettingtransferred the Director General of Police, Mr. S. S. Virk. The projectassociated with his name had also been given concessions under the megaprojects days before the announcement of the elections. Capt. AmarinderSingh had started on the campaign against corruption which saw Badals behindbars. Now he himself is under attack for the same reasons.The Akali Dal has promised to the people everything under the moon. Theparty has its record of credibility which promising sops to varioussections as the party had implemented its promise made during the 1997elections to provide free power to the farm sector. The same is not the casewith the Congress which had promised at that time to continue the facilityof free power but withdrew it. This facility was again provided as the partyfaced the wrath of the farming community. However, the damage had alreadybeen done. Despite smooth procurement operations, the farmers have beenagitating for various reasons.The candidates of the Left front and the Bahujan Samaj Party are also addingto the problems of the Congress which is without allies. Earlier, the partyused to have seat sharing with the Communist Party of India. The Congress,the Communists and the Bahujan Samaj Party share the same vote bank. Thepresence of the Left and the Bahujan Samaj Party candidates would be crucialin the seats where the fight is going to be close. It is Capt. AmarinderSingh who had personally opposed alliance with the Left.The Election Commission has taken a strong note of the violence in Beaswhere one Akali worker was killed when the security staff of the Congresscandidate, Mr. Jasbir Singh Dimpa, opened fire. His gunmen have been placedunder suspension pending inquiry. The Election Commission has postponed theelection to March 11 which has come as a big set back to the Congress as ithas provided a new dimension to the campaign. All along, the Akalis havebeen expressing the apprehension of poll related violence which is a newphenomenon in Punjab in the normal elections.Several surveys have appeared during the fortnight, some giving edge to theCongress and the others to the Akali Dal. However, in Punjab, the last 72hours are always the most crucial. The buying of votes has already started. It could be on massive scale this time. This phenomenon is more prevalent inthe Malwa region. Complaints have already reached the Election Commission. Both the main contenders to power are likely to resort to this practice on alarge scale as the stakes are too high. It is the political future of BadalJunior which is at stake. This is the only chance he has. The tide is infavour of the Akali Dal. And it is the BJP which is going to get the muchneeded impetus at the national level from Punjab. The elections are all themore important for the BJP also which has been slipping at the nationallevel. It is not without reason that the senior leadership of the party iscampaigning in Punjab.

Sukhbir Badal clames 85 to 95 and Amrinder Singh 70 seats
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal Thursday claimed that Akali Dal-BJP alliance would bag bewtween 85 to 95 seats in the state.
While talking to media persons here he said it was a vote for the change and people of the state had given a decisive verdict in favour of the Akali Dal-BJP alliance.
In reply to a question regarding record voting in the state this time he said people had come out in large number to vote against congress to dethrone the Capt.Amarinder Singh. Answering another query he said that Parkash Singh Badal would be the Chief Minister of the state and he was not in race for the post.
In the other hand Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh said that Congress will win over 70 seats of state assembly in and will form next government even as only three percent polling is reported in Patiala from where Amarinder Singh is seeking re-election.
Talking to media persons soon after casting his vote at Yadvindra public school (YPS) he said that the people of Punjab have been voting for development which they have done in last five years and they will again repose confidence in us, he optimised.
Capt. Singh said that he was satisfied with his poll campaign and issue raised during it and the issues that they have raised more valuable than SAD -the main opposition party. He said that they have told the people of Punjab to vote for development as their future was safe in the hand of Congress.