Though the Congress claimed it had provided a corruption-free transparent governance and worked for the state's development in the past five years, the CPI, its ally in the 2002 Assembly polls, brushed this aside and said the party was involved 'deep in corruption'. The SAD committed itself to 'a comprehensive recast of economic priorities, putting the rural and urban poor at the core of a bold and futuristic vision for growth and development' and resolved to fight poverty, price rise and unemployment. He said amity and peace are essential for all round development. Noting that the country and Punjab were braving a fight between two ideologies - that of the Congress and communal forces - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cautioned voters to desist from giving a chance to 'terrorist forces' to come forward in Punjab. The Congress took the lead in releasing its manifesto and, in the process, managed to attract various sections of society with its please-all announcements, including promises to provide wheat and atta at Rs 2 a kg and pulses at Rs 20 a kg to the 'poorest of the poor'. While the Congress promised to 'redouble its efforts to achieve high socio-economic growth with peace, equality and morality', the SAD-BJP alliance said it would provide 'people's rule with dignity'.
The last two days of campaigning were marred by heavy rain, which forced Congress president Sonia Gandhi to cancel her rallies at Rampura Phul in Bhatinda district and Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahab district.Ī number of other rallies were also affected by the rains. Observers believe a tough fight is on the cards as there seems to be no wave in the state to place either the Congress or the Akalis in a clear winning position though Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and leader of opposition in the outgoing Assembly, Parkash Singh Badal, confidently claim they are set to come to power. The two main contestants - the ruling Congress and the opposition SAD-BJP alliance - conducted a no-holds barred campaign against each other. Voting in the two constituencies of Beas in Amritsar and Valtoha in Tarn Taran district has been deferred to March 11 and February 24 respectively.Ĭounting of votes in 116 constituencies will be done on February 27, while that of Beas will take place later. Polling to 115 of 117 seats of the Punjab Assembly will be held amidst tight security, with about 200 companies of paramilitary forces and police being deployed to ensure incident-free voting by 1.66 crore voters who will decide the fate of 1,038 candidates at 16,509 polling stations. The campaigning was dominated by no-holds barred electioneering by the ruling Congress and opposition Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance on issues like development and terrorism.
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