Sukhbir Badal accepts defeat, hints at 'AAP effect'

Though the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could not win the Punjab assembly polls, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal hinted on Saturday that the its effect could have left to his party's rout.

"The party would take stock of the party performance soon. As per information flowing in, the SAD has got an impressive 30.4 per cent of the vote share. Despite this we have not fared well due to concentration of AAP vote share of around 24 per cent in the Malwa region alone. There are other factors also which will be examined in due course," he said in a statement here.

The Akali Dal fared badly in the assembly results, winning only 15 seats on its own and 18 with alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party in the 117-member assembly, relegated to the third position behind the Congress and the AAP.

Badal thanked people for the support extended to the SAD-BJP combine for the last 10 years.

"We honour the mandate given by Punjabis today and will extend support to the new government for all endeavours taken for the welfare of the state.

"I wish the Congress will continue to maintain the pace of development in Punjab and take it to new heights. We stand for Punjab and Punjabiat and ensure the people that we are ready to work in league with the the new government to ensure justice for Punjab on all contentious issues facing the state," he said.

--IANS

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