Unemployment, education to be issues in Assembly polls: Badal

Phagwara, Nov 19 (UNI) Former Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Parkash Singh Badal said his party would enter the poll arena with issues concerning education, unemployment, health services, trade and industry, and agriculture.

Increasing prices of essential commodities and corruption will of course be the key issues in the election campaign in the assembly polls to be held in February next year, he said while addressing mediapersons here today.

Replying to a query Mr Badal said that the SAD-BJP alliance was as strong as a rock and the two parties were working in close coordination. Denying reports about differences between both parties on the issue of seat sharing, he said that the matter would be amicably solved.

Stating that the SAD and BJP will have seperate election manifestoes, Mr Badal said.'' However both parties will have a common minimum programme for the polls.'' Refering to his demand of deployment of para-military forces for the elections, the Akali leader urged the Election Commission to make adequate arrangements for a free, fair, fearless and transparent election. Though the Punjab police was a discipilined force but few of its senior officers were working only at the behest of the chief minister, he claimed.

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