Poll outcome: Punjabis in Kochi disappointed

KOCHI: The victory of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine in Punjab has come as a surprise to over 25 Punjabi families settled in the city as they had expected the Congress to return to power.
"We have been watching the results right from the morning. We never expected SAD-BJP combine to win the polls and continue in power," said Punjabi Association spokesperson Bunty Singh.
He said that the business community of Punjab, who had settled in various parts of the country, was not expecting the return of the SAD-BJP combine as their policies were not encouraging. "The policies of the SAD have been basically for the development of the weaker sections of society. Though we want a government to work for the weaker sections, it should also come out with policies to help the business community. We believed that the Congress will make a comeback," he said.
"The victory of SAD has been a shocker to us. We want the Congress to come to power. The policies of SAD in the last five years have hurt the business community badly. The previous government only focused on the development of the agricultural community. Though the outcome of the polls in Punjab has no direct bearing on us, the Punjabi business community here was in favour of the Congress," said Surinderpal Singh, another businessman from Punjab, settled in the city.