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Chautala rules out snap poll

Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today ruled out the possibility of mid-term assembly poll in the state. Addressing a news conference, Chautala said his government would complete its remaining term.

He claimed the Indian National Lok Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance would bag all the 10 parliamentary seats in the state. He said there was an overwhelming response among the people towards the alliance during the poll, adding that even opposition parties had admitted as much.

He said there were three reasons for the enthusiastic response among the people towards the INLD-BJP alliance. First, there was a great resentment among the people against former chief minister Bansi Lal. Secondly, he said, people had great expectations from him after he assumed the reins of the state. Finally, there was a Vajpayee wave in the state, he said.

He said there was a complete co-ordination between workers of the INLD and the BJP in the state and that they worked in unison during the elections. He expressed his gratitude to the people and the administration for the free, fair and peaceful elections held in the state on Sunday. Chautala said Haryana registered the highest poll percentage in the country in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections. Even the repoll the Election Commission ordered in five booths was due to some technical reasons, he pointed out.

Replying to a question, Chautala said he would visit Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to canvas for the National Democratic Alliance candidates there. He would also visit some other states if Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee directed him to do so, he said. Responding to a question about expansion of his ministry, the chief minister said the matter would be considered after the results to the Lok Sabha election were out.

Asked about his priorities, Chautala said these included providing a clean administration to the people, adequate power supply and renovation of the road network. At present, the roads were in very bad shape in the state, he said, adding that the government would provide the finances for it.

Chautala also said he had called a meeting of power officials here this afternoon to review the power reformation programme initiated by the Bansi Lal government with World Bank assistance in the state. He said the programme would be studied minutely to ensuring that the interests of the state were fully protected.

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