SAD-BJP combine wrests power from Congress in Punjab

Chandigarh, Feb 27 (UNI) The Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance today wrested power from Chief Minister Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab.

Of the 110 assembly seats, results for which had been declared so far, the SAD-BJP alliance had bagged 61 seats while the Congress got 44 and other 5 went to others.

Cap Amarinder Singh, while conceding defeat has submitted his resignation to Punjab Governor Gen (Retd) S F Rodrigues. He has been asked by the Governor to continue in the office till the formation of the new government.

SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal, who is also the alliance's chief ministerial candidate, while thanking the voters, who had come out in record 76 per cent to vote, said, ''It was popular verdict against the autocratic rule of Capt Singh and not just an anti-incumbency vote.'' The elections were held for 116 of the total 117 seats in the Punjab assembly. The polls in Beas, where the polling was postponed due to poll violence, are scheduled for March 11.

UNI