Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday complimented the people of Punjab on the peaceful and smooth conclusion of the first phase of polling covering the four constituencies of Patiala, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Sangrur.
''I am happy that people of the state have given a strong rebuff to forces that were out to defame the peaceful, democratic traditions of Punjab by raising a false hue and cry against the government's determination to ensure a smooth poll,'' he said.
In a statement in Chandigarh, Badal thanked the voters in general and the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and leaders in particular for ensuring incident-free polling. He also had a word high praise for the state government officials and the election officials for successfully warding off attempts by some elements to throw a spanner in the electoral wheel in Punjab.
Badal also added a word of praise for the Election Commission for ensuring a free and fair poll in Punjab.
He said the peaceful conclusion of the first phase of the poll process in the state had effectively exposed and falsified the misleading and vicious propaganda of the detractors of the government that the election process in the state would not be smooth.
The people of the state have responded most emphatically to allegations of foul-play leveled by our political opponents.
The Chief Minister said the trends in the first phase of polling clearly showed that the SAD-BJP alliance was heading towards a massive mandate in their favour.
The people of the state appeared to have given a thumbs-up to their policies and have rejected the performances of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre.
He said the heavy turnout was an expression of public anger against the Union Government's failure to tackle the price rise, recession, unemployment and poverty.
The Chief Minister had a word of praise for the administration which kept a strong vigil to ensure peaceful, free and fair election in this phase.
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