Badal congratulates Mayawati

Chandigarh, May 11 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today congratulated Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati for the spectacular performance of her party in Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections.

In a message to Ms Mayawati, Mr Badal described the performance of BSP as a ''heartening sign for democracy in the country and good news for poor and downtrodden.'' The chief minister said the results of UP elections could decisively influence the national politics.

Referring to the performance of the Congress in the UP elections, Mr Badal said the results would puncture the ''pretensions of the Nehru-Gandhi family as the presence of their entire clan during campaign could not help prevent the Congress from disaster.'' UNI