Punjab Assembly by-poll: Congress leads in Akali Dal stronghold
Chandigarh, May 31: The ruling Congress built a formidable lead of over 16,000 votes in the Shiromani Akali Dal stronghold of Shahkot in Punjab after seven rounds of counting in the by-election to the Assembly seat on Thursday.
Congress candidate Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia was leading over his Shiromani Akali Dal rival Naib Singh Kohar after the first few rounds of counting.
Ladi received over 34,000 votes while Kohar got only around 18,000 votes.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Rattan Singh was trailing fair behind. He got just over 1,100 votes.
The seat fell vacant following the death of sitting Akali Dal legislator Ajit Singh Kohar in February.
Kohar, a former minister, was elected five times from this seat. His son Naib Singh Kohar was fielded by the Akali Dal.
The Shahkot seat remained a stronghold of the Akali Dal for over two decades in the past.
There were 12 candidates in the fray this time. A total of 76 per cent voting was reported on May 28.
Punjab has a Congress government since March 2017.
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TN supplier of ghee to Tirupati temple says labs have certified product quality
Chennai (PTI): AR Dairy, a company that supplied ghee to Tirupati Lord Balaji temple, on Friday said their product samples have been duly cleared by authorities certifying its quality.
The Dindigul based firm's spokespersons told reporters that only during the months of June and July they had supplied ghee to the Tirumala Lord Venkateswaraswamy temple.
Even when ghee was supplied to Tirupati temple, it was sent along with duly accredited lab reports.
"There has been no deviations at all." Their firm was only one of the several vendors who had supplied ghee to the TTD and quality certifications had been shared with them.
"Our ghee is not being sent now to Tirupati temple. We don't send," a spokesperson said, adding, their products were available at all places and that these could be tested for quality.
A major row has erupted following Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's claims of low quality ghee and alleged presence of animal fat in the laddus made and distributed at the shrine.
