Cong will win more than ten seats in Punjab: Shakeel Ahmed

Ludhiana: Narendra Modi`s visit to Punjab is not going to boost the poll prospects of SAD-BJP candidates as there is a "strong anti-incumbency" against Akali government in the state, Congress on Thursday said.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed also claimed that Congress will bag 10 out of total 13 seats of the state. "Congress will win more than ten out of total 13 seats in Punjab," he said. "Narendra Modi`s visit to Punjab tomorrow is not going to help the prospects of the Akali?BJP combine candidates as there is strong anti-incumbency against the Badal government," he said. Ahmed, who is also in-charge of the Punjab affairs of the party, said that each section of the society in the state has become "sick" of Akali?BJP government`s "failures" and negative style of functioning. The state is going to polls on April 30. "Moreover everybody knows the role of Modi towards the Sikh farmers living in Gujarat," he added. Ahmed described former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh as a "charismatic leader" of the state Congress. He, however, evaded a direct reply to a question about Amarinder`s removal as the chief of the state unit. "It was upto the party high command to decide about the office bearer," he said. In reply to a question, Ahmed claimed that during the NDA rule the then Home Minister L K Advani had tried to remove the names of the RSS and the BJP activists from the charge sheet of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Arun Jaitley, who is now contesting from Amritsar, must clarify his position on the issue, he said.