Badal launches bypoll campaign in Amritsar South

Amritsar, Apr 28 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today launched the Akali Dal (Badal) campaign for Amritsar South bypolls here today, stressing that his party's victory would ensure ''fast pace of development in the constituency.

Mr Badal, scheduled to address five to six meetings today, began his campaign from the Bagtawalan grain market saying, ''just as the SAD (B) has ensured licences for arhatias (commission agents), in the same manner, the voters here should ensure this assembly seat for the Akali Dal.'' Mr Badal also stressed that while the poll result would not have major impact upon his party, but if the seat went to rival Congress, the development was bound to suffer.

''Elect the Akali Dal candidate for your own good as it would ensure that the fast pace of development in the constituency is maintained,'' he said.

Later, while interacting with mediapersons, Mr Badal refused to comment on a query about tainted police officers, saying that the matter was sub-judice.

However, he stressed that all measures would be taken to hold free and fair polls and appealed to voters to confidently exercise their franchise. ''No one will be allowed to take law in their hands,'' he said.

When quizzed about the name of party candidate for the seat, Mr Badal said the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party had authorised SAD (B) chief Sukhbir Badal to take a decision in this matter.

UNI XC JN RJ AS1754