NEW DELHI: In a pre-election survey, conducted by Lokniti-ABP News, the ruling SAD-BJP combine are seen emerging as the top party in the upcoming state Assembly elections in Punjab. The survey said the alliance may win 50-58 seats, while the Congress might bag 41-49 seats, and AAP may bag 12-18 seats and come third.
The survey said 34 per cent of voters indicated SAD-BJP as their preference, 31 per cent respondents said Congress, and 21 per cent chose AAP. The ruling party was shown leading in two out of three regions of the state, according to the survey. It also revealed that 85 per cent respondents said drug addiction problem was a very serious issue. It also said that Congress was the choice of 25 per cent of respondents when it came to solving the problem of drugs. It found Capt Amarinder Singh to be the most spontaneous preference of voters for the post of CM with 29 per cent rooting for him.
Politics in the country are on a high with Assembly elections scheduled to take place in UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur, between February 4 and March 8. While polling will be spread over seven phases in Uttar Pradesh, it will be a one-day affair in Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa, and a two-day exercise in Manipur. The whole electoral process will begin with the issue of notification for polls in Punjab and Goa on January 11. Counting of votes will be taken up together in all the states on March 11, the Election Commission said.
The survey revealed that 43 per cent of the voters saw AAP as being a spoiler, while 34 per cent thought Kejri was a strong contender in the state. Twenty per cent backed Parkash Singh Badal, 8 per cent backed AAP's Bhagwant Mann, while 4 per cent think Kejri will win.
