Chandigarh, December 25
A confident Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought to dispel popular misgivings that while he would lead the SAD-BJP alliance in the election, he would give way to his political heir and son Sukhbir Badal and instal him as the chief minister at the first opportunity.

“ I will never betray the people’s mandate,” said Badal and added that if the alliance were to be voted to power again, he would not only be the CM but would also complete his full term. “ I feel like I am 48, and not 84 years old,” he added for good measure.

In an interview with The Tribune Editor-in-Chief Raj Chengappa here today, the chief minister claimed that the SAD-BJP government had done in four years what Congress governments had not been able to do in 62 years. While Amarinder Singh had “announced three colleges in five years”, the Chief Minister claimed, his government had started as many as 70 colleges during his current tenure.

He also made it clear that the father and son (Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal) complemented each other. He said Sukhbir was behind the decision to project him as the chief ministerial candidate of the coalition and that the Deputy CM was leading the party effectively and had already proved his mettle.

The CM also said that he did not feel bad fighting his brother from Lambi as it was he who was on the right path. Claiming that one of the key issues would be maintenance of communal harmony and peace in the border State, Badal said peace in Punjab was achieved by dint of good governance. He said the SAD perceived its alliance with the BJP as part of a social responsibility and that the BJP would turn out to be an asset in the electoral battle.

n See interview page 5