Punjab Election results 2012: SAD-BJP alliance set to retain power in Punjab

The SAD-BJP alliance was set to retain power in Punjab as it was leading in 71 out of the total 117 assembly constituencies

The Congress was leading in 38 assembly constituencies while Independents were leading in two constituencies of Mukerian and Amargarh, according to trends available so far.

The SAD was leading in 60 constituencies and its alliance partner BJP in 11 constituencies.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that emerging results in Punjab, where it was trailing far behind the ruling Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine, were "extremely baffling".

Chief Ministerial aspirants Parkash Singh Badal and Amarinder Singh were leading from Lambi and Patiala respectively.

While Amarinder was leading with a margin of 4340 votes, his son Raninder was trailing by 1630 votes from Samana assembly constituency.

Parkash Singh Badal was leading by 2305 votes over his nearest rival and cousin Mahesh Inder Singh Badal of the INC from Lambi. Parkash Singh Badals' younger brother Gurdas Singh Badal was at the third spot.

Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma was leading by 1738 votes over his nearest rival Raman Bhalla of the Congress from the Pathankot assembly constituency.

Badal senior's estranged nephew Manpreet, who formed the People's Party of Punjab was at the third spot from Maur where SAD's Janmeja Singh Sekhwan was leading over his nearest rival Mangat Rai Bansal of the Congress by 238 votes.

The other key leaders include Hockey Olympian Pargat Singh (SAD- Jalandhar Cantt), Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur (SAD- Sultanpur Lodhi), Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Congress-Lehra) and BJP MP Navjot Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur from Amritsar East.

Rahul Gandhi: Amarinder Singh would be the next Chief Minister of Punjab

In an unusual move, Punjab PCC Chief Amarinder Singh was today projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Congress by the party's general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

"Amarinder will become the Chief Minister if the Congress is voted to power by your (electorate) support," Mr Gandhi told an election rally in Ferozepur.

The announcement, which the party rarely does before elections, comes less than a week ahead of the January 30 Assembly elections which are expected to witness a keen tussle between the Congress and the Akali Dal-BJP combine.

Amarinder Singh is a former Chief Minister and has been the frontrunner for the post since he was made the PCC President. Former Chief Minister and state CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is another aspirant.

The development is significant as the Congress has not projected any Chief Ministerial candidate in the four poll-bound states including Uttar Pradesh. This is despite the fact that Ibobi Singh of Manipur has been seeking to commit a hat-trick after remaining the Chief Minister for 10 long years. Digambar Kamat has been the Chief Minister of the Congress-led coalition in Goa.

Interestingly, Mr Gandhi's announcement came on a day when the party high command seeking to avoid any dissensions on the leadership issue in Uttar Pradesh dismissed suggestions that it has decided on any Chief Ministerial candidate before elections.

The statement from the Congress central leadership came close on the heels of reports from Pratapgarh where Union Minister Salman Khurshid indicated last night that the state Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tewari could play a bigger role after elections.