SAD-BJP set to create history in Punjab with repeat win

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Live elections results 2012: Congress stakes claim to form govt in Uttarakhand | PM Manmohan Singh congratulates Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and SP leaders Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh Yadav | A 12-year-old boy dies in UP during celebratory firing of a Samajwadi Party candidate: TV report

Shiromani Akali Dal is all set to create history in Punjab. The 


party, along with its ally BJP, is cruising to victory, bucking 


anti-incumbency for the first time in the state's electoral 


history.


The winning streak began early on Tuesday, and by 2 pm, 


SAD (32) and BJP (11) had together bagged 43 seats to 


Congress' 33. SAD was leading in 21 seats and Congress in 16.


Around 2 pm, CM Parkash Singh Badal's media adviser 


Harcharan Bains addressed the media at Badal's home in 


Lambi, saying: "In the next few hours, SAD is going to 


emerge as the single largest party. We are on the verge of 


breaking 45-year-old record." The members of the Badal 


family, however, still chose to remain confined in the house 


and not make a public apperanace.


Rebel Manpreet Badal Punjab has been rejected by the 


electorate of the state losing both his seats, including 


Gidderbaha, a seat he has been winning for four terms.





The Congress' biggest blow came from what is considered its 


forte, the Doaba region of Punjab, which has a huge Dalit 


base. Mayawati may not have retained her magic in Uttar 


Pradesh but Punjab's Dalit belt has rejected the Congress 


that has lost in a number of seats and trailing in many in 


Jalandhar, in the heart of Doaba.


Punjab's malwa region, which sends the largest number of 


MLAs to the Assmebly has given a fractured mandate. This 


raises doubts over the hold of the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha 


Sauda whose influence is said to be widespread in this 


region. The Dera has always played a big role in Punjab 


politics, especially in the way Malwa votes.