PUNJAB POLL RESULTS-2012
Amitabh Shukla /
Parkash Singh Badal would head the new Akali Dal-BJP government after being sworn in a function to be held at Chhapar Chiri in Mohali on Wednesday, marking a new phase in the history of the state. The 84-year old Badal was elected the leader of the SAD-BJP legislature party on Friday and staked his claim to form the government which the Governor accepted.
This is for the first time in the last almost five decades that an incumbent government received the mandate again and was voted back to power to steer the state till 2017.
The choice of Chhapar Chiri as the venue of the swearing is important. It was here that the great Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur fought a fierce battle with Nawab Wazir Khan of Sarhind in May 1710, leading to the foundation of the first Khalsa Raj. The Akali Dal government had inaugurated a fitting memorial here with a 328 feet high ‘Fateh Burj’ (victory tower) to commemorate the famous battle in Sikh history towards the end of its tenure in November last year.
“Swearing-in ceremony here indicates that those opposed to the Akali Dal in state politics have been vanquished,” an Akali leader said, adding that the symbolism associated with the place was important in deciding the venue. In 2007, Parkash Singh Badal and his Cabinet took oath of office and secrecy in the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium at Mohali, the venue for international matches.
Over 2000 selected guests from all over the country would be invited for the swearing-in ceremony of the 84-year Badal, who will become the CM for the fifth time, equaling the record of Jyoti Basu in
Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal is likely to be sworn in the same day along with a small Cabinet. The Cabinet will be expanded later after the first session of the state Assembly, expected to begin a week after the ceremony.
A confident senior Badal came to
He underlined the intention of the government to go for pro-poor and pro-development policies saying it would make all efforts to fulfill the aspirations of people. Making Punjab a power surplus state, completing the unfinished agenda of the previous government, free bicycles to girl students of 9th and 10th class, free education to all girls upto MA, bringing an end to the illegal drug trade, improving civic infrastructure in villages and cities, governance reforms and tackling corruption would be the other agenda of the new government.
Laying speculations about Sukhbir assuming leadership role in the state to rest, at least for the time being, the Core Committee of SAD hailed Parkash Singh Badal as “a rare and priceless gem not only for the Panth and Punjab but for the for the whole country”. It, however, acknowledged Sukhbir’s “brave, far sighted and tireless leadership” and termed him as the “architect” of the victory due to his “unmatched and invincible mixture of daring political vision, unbeatable strategy and hard work”.
Humbled by the victory, after the joint meeting of the SAD-BJP legislature party, Badal said that he became the chief minister for the first time in 1969 and was the youngest CM of the country and now would be the oldest one.
He also highlighted the equations of SAD with BJP terming it as “emotional relationship” saying that never in the political history there was any trade off with alliance partner as both parties have moved with perfect understanding. Sources said that the nitty-gritty of Cabinet formation and the number of BJP ministers in the new Cabinet were being worked out in consultation with the top leadership of the party. (March 10, 2012)
http://dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/48535-badal-to-be-sworn-in-on-march-14.html
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