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

CHANDIGARH: The ruling SAD-BJP alliance has marched ahead in Punjab while Congress was trailing as per trends available in the counting of votes for 117 Assembly constituencies. The combine looks all set to return to power in the state.

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 minister Parkash Singh Badal was leading in the Lambi seat against his younger brother Gurdas Badal of the People's Party of Punjab (PPP) and cousin Maheshinder Singh Badal.

The Congress was leading in Ghanaur, Amritsar Central, Khadoor Sahab, Garh Shankar, Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura, Fatehgarh Churian, Samana and Patiala. Former chief minister Amarinder Singh was leading in Patiala and his son Raninder Singh from Samana.

The SAD was leading in Raja Sansi, Sultanpur Lodhi, Faridkot, Nabha, Barnala, Attari, Ropar and Balachaur.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon was trailing in Fatehgarh Churian.

The BJP was leading in Phagwara, Anandpur Sahab and Dasuya while an Independent was leading from Amritsar East.

The fate of 1,078 candidates, including 93 women and 417 independents, will be decided during the day. Voting was held in the state on January 30.

Most results are expected later in the afternoon after all rounds of counting of votes on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are completed, a Punjab Election Commission official said.

There are 52 counting centres across the state.

Nearly 78 percent of the 17.6 million voters exercised their franchise. This was an all-time record for assembly polls in the state.

The main contest is between the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) alliance and the Congress.

A third front, Sanjha Morcha, formed recently and led by former finance minister Manpreet Badal's People's Party of Punjab (PPP), had added a new dimension to the state's politics.

(Inputs from agencies)