Prakash Singh Badal being garlanded by SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra after his re-election as president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in Amritsar on Sunday.

AMRITSAR, June 8: Complying with the directions of the Election Commission on inner party democracy, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was unanimously elected president of the Akali Dal (Badal) at the delegate session of the party held at Teja Singh Samundari hall in the Golden Temple complex here today.

Badal's name was proposed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra and seconded by Akali leader Jagdev Singh Talwandi. Former state chief minister and now party MP Surjit Singh Barnaala had also sent a letter endorsing the name of Badal as the party chief.

Urban housing development minister Sarup Singh, who was appointed the returning officer by the party announced the election of Badal to the highest party post amid slogans of bole sau nihal sat shri akal.

In his speech Badal thanked the people of the state for their verdict in the February assembly elections and assured them that his government would continue to work for welfare of the state.

Resolution adopted at the delegate session said the Akali Dal(Badal)-BJP combine government had fulfiled a majority of demands listed in their respective election manifestoes.

Reiterating the state governments commitment to maintain peace and promoting communal harmony, another resolution adopted at the delegates meeting blamed the Congress and the Communist parties for the decade long militancy in the state the resolution also took strong notice of the recent statements issued by certain opposition leaders to create a sense of indiscipline in the Punjab police.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.