Won’t blame anyone for SAD-BJP defeat: Badal

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Badal, March 11

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, talking to mediapersons at his residence here today, refused to  hold anyone responsible for the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections. “I accept the verdict. I will tender my resignation to the Governor in Chandigarh tomorrow. I congratulate the winners and advise the losers to work hard the next time. I have never challenged anyone,” he said, promising to cooperate with the new government on the SYL issue.

To a query, he claimed the drug issue was played up out of proportion. On accusations against SAD’s local leaders in Lambi, he said: “I have won with a huge margin. This shows the charges are wrong.” He did not say if he would congratulate his estranged nephew Manpreet Singh Badal for winning the Bathinda (Urban) seat and refused to speak on the SAD having elicited the support of Dera Sacha Sauda in the elections.

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Asked, whether it was his last election, Badal replied: “I have never said so.” Rejecting the suggestion that the PM’s visits had failed to turn the tide in the SAD-BJP favour, he pointed out, “Modi came only twice during electioneering.” Both Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Badal were in Delhi today. 

There were no celebrations at the Badal residence. None of the SAD-BJP winners visited the SAD patriarch.