SAD-BJP govt faces test of popularity tomorrow in PRI polls

Chandigarh, May 11 (UNI) The first test of popularity of the 14-month old Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP government comes tomorrow when more than 1.51 crore voters would exercise their franchise in the general elections to the Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis.

At stake are 18 Zila Parishad and 132 Panchayat Samiti zones.

However following the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court the polls in two Zila Parishad and nine Samiti zones have been postponed. The elections in these zones will be held on May 26 alongwith the Gram Panchayat elections.

The polls are being fought by the major political parties on their respective election symbols. The fight in a majority of the zones in straight between the SAD-BJP and the Congress while in certain pockets triangular contests are being witnessed after the SAD or BJP candidates refused to withdraw.

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