Election result: Akali Dal-BJP create history in Punjab

Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance created history in the state's politics as it stunned the Congress on Tuesday to retain power for a second consecutive term - the first such instance in the state in the last over four decades.

Beating the traditional anti-incumbency factor, the combine bagged a comfortable majority with 68 seats in the 117-member Punjab assembly as results were declared. It is for the first time in over four decades that a government has been able to come back to power for a consecutive term in Punjab.

Surprisingly, the combine managed to bag the same number of seats it had got in the 2007 assembly polls - 68.

The positives from the results were more for the Akali Dal as it increased its score from 49 seats in 2007 to 56 this time. However, alliance partner BJP's tally came down - from 19 seats to just 12 this time.

The Congress, hopeful of coming back to power, was "surprised" by the results and ended with 46 seats. In 2007, the party had bagged 44 seats.

While the Akali Dal with 34.75 per cent, and BJP with 7.13 per cent, got 41.88 per cent vote share, the Congress had 40.11 per cent votes and 6.76 per cent votes went to independents.

"I want to thank the people of Punjab for the faith reposed in us again. I don't have the words to express my gratitude to them. They have given us such a big victory," a visibly happy Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, 84, said.

With his son, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal - who is also the deputy chief minister - by his side, Badal senior said: "There are two reasons for our victory. We went to the people with the agenda of peace and development in the state. I am happy that we have been able to live up to their expectations."

With victory in their bag, the question being asked now is which of the Badals - the father or the son - will be the next chief minister of Punjab.

"It is for the party leadership to decide on who will be the chief minister," Badal senior, clearly trying to evade the question, said.

Sukhbir, who is being credited by Akali Dal leaders for the party's remarkable victory, was more clear on the issue. He himself returned with the highest victory margin, 50,246, among all 117 winning candidates.

Badal junior, 49, said: "We will consult the party but Parkash Singh Badal will be the candidate (for being CM)."

Dropping hints about Sukhbir's elevation, the chief minister said: "It is the victory of the people of Punjab. But I must appreciate Sukhbir Badal as he worked very hard with the party organisation. He had a big role as party president. He played the role effectively. I am fully satisfied."

Sukhbir led the Akali Dal campaign from the front and was the most visible face of the party compared to his ageing father. During the campaign, Sukhbir had openly said that the Akalis would govern Punjab for 25 years.

Badal senior also announced that he and his entire family will pay obeisance at the holiest of Sikh shrines, Harmandar Sahib, (popularly called Golden Temple) in Amritsar Wednesday.

"We will work harder in the new government," Badal announced.

The Akali Dal and BJP are likely to hold a meeting on Thursday before the next government is sworn-in.

The Congress, which was very hopeful of returning to power this time, accepted defeat in the election.

"We accept our defeat. We will analyze where things went wrong. We could not win, we will do introspection for our defeat," Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh said.

"I take full responsibility for the defeat. This result is very surprising," Amarinder Singh, a former chief minister, said.

"I wish the government well. I hope they will perform well for Punjab. It needs good governance," he added.

Congress dissidents, nearly two dozen of them, did affect the party's official candidates on some seats.