CHINTPURNI (HP): Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Saturday sought blessings of Holy Hindu deities at historic temples at Jawala Ji, Chintpurni and Bangla Mukhi for the electoral success of the Congress party in the ensuing assembly elections in Punjab.

Striking a note of optimism Captain Amarinder Singh said that a strong wave in favour of Congress Party was blowing giving him confidence of sure landslide victory in the elections.  He further said that this time Congress was going to improve its tally by winning at least 74 seats. He said that a recent survey conducted by an independent organization, had also given a clear mandate to the Congress in Punjab.

While talking to media persons at Jawala ji, the Chief Minister said that from February 5 the prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will tour the state for two-day and would address rallies one each in at Jalandhar and Amritsar. Likewise AICC president Ms Sonia Gandhi would also address four rallies two in Malwa and one each in Doaba and Majha regions-.

Chief Minister who flew in Chopper Sapri helipad near Jawala Ji, paid obeisance in the temples of Maan Jwalaji, Maan Bagla Mukhi and Maan Chintpurni. Priest at Jawala ji offered a Siropa to Capt Amarinder Singh. 

Capt Amarinder Singh said his family have very old association with the Jawala Ji   temple as in 1763, his ancestors-chief Baba Alla  Singh had arranged to take fire from Jawala Ji  jyot which since then is burning at Burj Baba Alla Singh in Qilla Mubarakh in Patiala City. 

He said that the Congress Party's was asking for votes on the basis of the development work done during the past five years. "Congress is the party of poor and down trodden sections of society and it has done a lot to improve their economic lot. It   has taken several measures to establish the Dalit families , by giving them free power, food grains and dals at prices much done  and he party has done a lot for these communities in general and other people in particular since India got freedom.' 

Chief Minister said that he was overwhelmed by the reception and love shown by the people of the area during his recent vikas yatra in various parts of the state and the people would vote for the congress party in recognition of development works undertaken by his government. He said that the party government implemented its election manifesto in toto and provided jobs to twenty-five thousand youth to become part of the mainstream of the Punjab.

Captain stated that SAD, President Parkash Singh Badal had bartered away the interests of the state to promote his families' interestd for the sake of his friendship with Om Parkash Chautala former Chief Minister Haryana.  He said that it was he took the initiative to draft an act for river water termination bill quashing all the agreements regarding river waters. In this way the land of about five lakh farmers was saved from becoming a desert.