Punjab Results: Big Win for Congress, AAP Relegated to Opposition
Live updates for Punjab Assembly elections 2017. Will debutant AAP emerge victorious?
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Big Win for Congress In Punjab
The Congress was on Saturday won a two-third majority in the 117-seat Punjab assembly, with veteran Amarinder Singh set to return as Chief Minister of the border state.
The Congress, which had been out of power in Punjab for a decade, won 77 seats, paving the way for the next Congress government in Punjab.
- Congress stormed back to power with 77 of the 117 assembly seats
- AAP, which contesting its first Punjab assembly elections emerged as the largest opposition party with 20 seats
- The Prakash Singh Badal led SAD won 15 seats, down from its earlier tally of 56 seats
- Amarinder Singh lost the Lambi seat where he contested against CM Prakash Singh Badal but won from the Patiala assembly seat
- 70% turnout was recorded during single phase polling in Punjab on 4 February
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi Thanks The People of Punjab
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi thanked the poeple of Punjab for their support.
PM Modi Tweets About SAD-BJP Alliance in Punjab
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Punjab for letting the BJP-SAD combine serve them.
Navjot Singh Sidhu Wins by 42,809 Votes
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has won the Amritsar East assembly constituency. The former cricketer has served two consecutive terms as a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar.
Sukhbir Singh Badal Beats Bhagwant Mann
Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, defeats AAP MP from Sanrgrur Bhagwant Mann in his home turf of Jalalabad. However, the Akali Dal-BJP alliance has been defeated by the Congress.
PM Modi Congratulates Amarinder Singh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he had congratulated Amarinder Singh on his victory in Punjab.
Captain Amarinder Singh reciprocated and tweeted to PM Modi.
Punjab Elections 2017 - A Quick Explainer!
Our Struggle Will Continue, Says Kejriwal
AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to comment on his party’s performance. He said, “We accept people’s mandate. The party volunteers worked hard and our struggle will continue.”
AAP has won a total of 23 seats in the state.
Parkash Badal Congratulates Amarinder
SAD veteran leader Parkash Singh Badal congratulated Amarinder Singh on the Congress’ win on Saturday.
He said that his party will extend its cooperation with regard to matters related to Punjab.
Badal, who will submit his resignation to the Governor on Sunday, said that the party will call for a core meeting to discuss the issues that led to SAD’s defeat in the state.
He congratulated and thanked Lambi voters after winning the seat with 66,375 votes.
'AAP Has No Leadership'
Addressing the media after the Congress gained 75 out of the 117 Assembly seats, veteran leader Amarinder Singh thanked Punjab’s voters for the big win. The state party chief won from Patiala (urban) seat by over 51,000 votes.
He hit out at Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP saying it has “no leadership”.
“In my political career, I’ve seen many third fronts come forward, but people tilt towards one party.”
Singh said that he will meet Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi soon and recommend names for his government’s cabinet ministers.
The government’s priority will be the drugs issue plaguing Punjab.
Stating other issues on his agenda, he said: “People want access to good education, employment, setting up of industries and I hope the Union Government will recognise the demands of Punjab.”
He later thanked his supporters on Twitter.
This is the revival of Congress, Says Sidhu
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has declared his party’s victory by calling it “gift to Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Amarinder Singh”.
“People destroyed their pride of the wrong,” Sidhu said lashing out at the Badals.
“This is the revival of the Congress and it is only the beginning. The party will spread from here,” he added.
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Cong's Sidhu in First Spot
Congress’ Navjot Singh Sidhu ahead in Amritsar (East) with 21,994 seats. Right behind him is BJP’s Rajesh Kumar Honey with 2,208 votes.
Congress candidate Manpreet Singh Badal is also leading from the Bhatinda (urban) seat with 20,620 votes.
Congress’ Pargat Singh emerged victor from the Jalandhar Cantt seat. He won a total of 59,349 votes.
Badal Jr Leads in Jalalbad
SAD leader Sukhbir Badal is ahead in Jalalabad with 14,165 seats. His contender - AAP’s Bhagwant Mann is in the second spot with followed by Congress’ Ravneet Singh Bittu.
Congress' Amarinder Singh Leads in Patiala
Congress chief Amarinder Singh might be lagging behind in Lambi but is ahead by 36,552 votes in his second constituency Patiala.
SAD’s Gen JJ Singh (retd) trails badly behind Capt Amarinder Singh and AAP’s Balbir Singh in Patiala.
SAD's Parkash Badal Leads in Lambi
SAD leader and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is leading from his Lambi constituency. Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh is on the second position followed by AAP’s Jarnail Singh.
SAD leader Bikaram Singh Majithia leads in his Majitha constituency.
The Quint Is Now Live With Latest Updates
Counting on for 117 Assembly Seats
Vote counting begins at all the 54 centres in 27 locations in Punjab for 117 assembly seats. Postal ballots will be counted first.
Dry day has been declared in Punjab on Saturday.
Will Win Punjab, Says AAP's Kumar Vishwas
AAP leader Kumar Vishwas is confident of winning in Punjab and said: “Our party is only 3-4 years old and we've brought about a significant change in the Indian political arena.”
Congress Holds Prayers For Its Candidates
The Congress headquarters in Delhi held a yajna for its candidates on Saturday right before the counting of votes commences.
'Nawan Savera, Nawan Punjab'
As the countdown for counting of votes begins, debutant AAP is looking forward to a “New Punjab”.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh wished his Punjab party candidates luck. “Your hard work will definitely pay,” he said.
Counting Begins at 8 AM
The stage is set for counting of votes on Saturday to wrap up a staggered poll process in five states – the biggest electoral contest ahead of the 2019 general elections – in what is largely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move.
According to the Election Commission of India, the early trends will start pouring in from 8 am for Punjab, where thousands of central forces have been deployed at 54 vote counting centres in 27 locations.
The Congress is eyeing power in Punjab, but is expected to be given a tough fight by the Aam Aadmi Party, which is also hoping to form government in the state, which would mark its first electoral success outside Delhi.
More than 14,000 officials have been deployed at the counting centres, where tight security arrangements have been made to ensure that the exercise is completed peacefully.
How Punjab Voted in 2012 Assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha Elections
In the 2012 Assembly elections, the state witnessed a direct contest between Congress and SAD-BJP coalition. The ruling SAD-BJP alliance led by Parkash Singh Badal won the elections by securing 68 out of 117 seats.
The SAD won 56 seats, whereas BJP secured 12 seats out of 24 it contested. Indian National Congress, under the leadership of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, won 46 seats.
Here’s how Punjab voted in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
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