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Badal blames Narayanan, Sonia and Jaya for political crisis

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Tuesday squarely blamed the Congress and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief J Jayalalitha for forcing a mid-term poll on the country.

He said there was strong public reaction against the Congress for this.

Addressing mediapersons, the chief minister said the Congress wanted to grab power by ensuring the fall of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, for which it entered into an understanding with Jayalalitha.

Its failure to form an alternate government at the Centre after the defeat of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in the Lok Sabha has exposed party president Sonia Gandhi's plans, he said.

Responding to a question, he said President K R Narayanan should have given a chance to Vajpayee for forming another government. He should not have asked Vajpayee to seek a vote of confidence since the Budget session was on and the Opposition had several opportunities for a trial of strength.

The country could not afford the luxury of a mid-term poll every year. Frequent polls adversely affected the economy, which was passing through a crisis. The forthcoming poll would put an additional burden of Rs 11 to Rs 12 billion on the country.

Badal, who is also the Shiromani Akali Dal president, said the electoral alliance between SAD and its ruling partner BJP would continue in the state for the coming poll. Other political parties were also welcome to join up to ensure the defeat of the Congress, he said.

UNI

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