MC polls: Badal thanks people for mandate to SAD-BJP

Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday thanked the people of the state for the heavy electoral mandate to the SAD-BJP coalition in the municipal corporation elections, saying this was a referendum on the state government's "progressive and result-oriented policies".

Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday thanked the people of the state for the heavy electoral mandate to the SAD-BJP coalition in the municipal corporation elections, saying this was a referendum on the state government's "progressive and result-oriented policies".

"With these results, the SAD-BJP government further dedicates itself to building a new Punjab, free from poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and social evils and put it on a high growth trajectory," Badal said in a statement here.

"The victory has filled us with even greater humility and responsibility towards the aspirations of people," he said.

These results should not only be construed as a victory in civic polls but they actually reflect the resentment among the voters against the malicious campaign unleashed by the Congress to defame the hard-working and resilient Punjabis, Badal said.

He thanked the workers, leaders and other rank and file of the SAD-BJP for ensuring the thumping win for the ruling alliance.

The chief minister also complimented the State Election Commission, and civil and police administration for ensuring free and fair polls.