Bjp-Akali Common Programme Before Punjab Polls

The Akali-BJP combine in Punjab will soon announce a common minimum programme, well before the assembly polls which are scheduled for February 6. This was disclosed at a joint press conference addressed by Balramji Dass Tandon, president of the Punjab unit of the BJP and Kanwaljit Singh, secretary general of the Akali Dal, here yesterday.

However, the two alliance parties would announce their separate party manifesto, the leaders said.

Regarding seat-adjustments between the two parties for the coming elections, Singh said, Talks are being held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere to decide the issue. We are clear in our approach that the Congress is our common enemy and we have to together give a crushing defeat to the enemy. Both were confident that the issue of seat-adjustment would be resolved soon.

In their opening remarks, both Tandon and Singh sharply criticised the ruling Congress for what they termed as interfering in the functioning of the election Commission. Tandon said, Why should the Chief Minister oppose February 6 as the polling date for the elections fixed by the Election Commission? Perhaps Bhattal has read the clear writing on the wall that the Congress will face a crushing defeat in the coming elections and the Akali-BJP alliance will make a clean sweep as we have recently performed in the Chandigarh municipal corporation elections.

The Akali Dal general secretary observed that Bhattal was trying to create an unnecessary controversy about the Election Commissions decision to hold the Assembly elections on February 6.

He remarked, For five years, the Congress did nothing except to loot the state and now the Chief Minister wants more time to implement her so-called action plan in the state. The fact is that the ruling party stands exposed on the eve of the elections. By approaching the Election Commission to reconsider its decision to hold the Punjab elections on February 6, Bhattal is conveying a clear impression that the Punjab Congress is afraid to face the polls and the people.

The Akali leader described Janata Dal and the two left parties as rootless in Punjab and questioned their locus standi to criticise the election commission for fixing February 6 as the date for Punjab assembly elections. Justifying the decision of the election commission, Singh said, After all, the new government which takes over in Punjab after February 8 will also need time to prepare the state budget. He said it was not binding on the election commission to consult the political parties before finalising the agenda for any assembly poll.

Singh said Bhattal had recently amended the Lok Pal Act in Punjab to save as many as 11 of her ministerial colleagues against whom, corruption charges were proved and a Lok Pal report against them was going to be submitted.