The Punjab poll

Anant Gaundalkar

The much-awaited assembly election in Punjab will be held on Friday, February 7. The last time an assembly election was held in the state was exactly five years back -- on February 19, 1992 when the fear of terrorism loomed large over its people.

In the last fifty years, Punjab has witnessed ten assembly elections. On seven occasions, the Congress has emerged the largest party in the state assembly. In 1957, it set a record by winning 120 out of the 154 seats.

However, thrice the party was defeated by the Shiromani Akali Dal -- in 1971, 1980 and then in 1989.

The Congress won 87 out of the 117 seats in the 1992 election which the Akali Dal boycotted.

Can the Congress regain power in Friday's poll?

Following are the complete details of the party-wise positions of previous assembly elections held in Punjab.

                           Years of Polls


              1952 1957 1962 1967 1971 1977 1980 1985 1989 1992



Total Seats   126  154  154  104  104  104  117  117  117  117



Congress      96   120   90   48   38   66  17   63   32   87



BJP           --   9     8    9    8    --  --   1    6    6



Janata Dal    --   --    --   24   1    --  --   --   --   1



CPI           4    6     9    5    4    10  7    9    1    4



CPM           --   --    --   3    2    1   8    5    --   1



Janata Party  1    --    3    --   1    --  25   --   1   --



SAD           13   --    19   --   43   24  58   37   73   2



SADK          1    --    --   3    --   --  --   --   --   1



BSP           2    1     --   --   1   --   --   --   --   9



ADM           --   5     3    2    --  --   --   --   --   --



SOC           --   --    4    1    2   --   --   --   --   --



Independents  9    13    18   9    4    3    2    2    4    6