Monday, February 6 2006 16:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh: Denying Shiromani Akali Dal's allegations of inefficiency against the Congress Government in Punjab, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today (Feb 06 2006) claimed that out of the total 66 promises made ahead of the last assembly polls, his Government had fulfilled 63 and pending issues will be cleared soon.

Hinting that several SAD members, including party legislators, were keen to join the Congress, Singh said the Akalis were fed up with the leadership of father-son duo of Parkash and Sukhbir Singh Badal.

"A number of people from Akali Dal are in touch with the Congress. Very soon you (media) will see something surprising. We shall be announcing something sooner than later," he said.

On the occasion, former Akali Dal MP Dhana Singh Gulshan's son Gurcharan Singh Dhaliwal joined the Congress. Welcoming Dhaliwal into the Congress fold, the Chief Minister said "in near future you (media) will see much more happening."

Referring to SAD's assertions during a rally at Bathinda yesterday that if voted to power Akalis will abolish octroi and review VAT, Singh told reporters here his Government was committed to doing away with octroi in a couple of months.