Expected Moves

Expected Moves EXERCISES underway in Punjab invite scepticism more than confidence. The prime minister and the home minister insist that the state, whose last spell of civilian rule commenced in October 1985 following the Punjab accord and terminated in May 1987, will go to the polls before February 15, 1992, the deadline fixed by the government on the last occasion of renewal of president's rule. Similar assurances in the past have proved to be meaningless and there is little evidence to infer otherwise in the present instance particularly when viewed in the light of what are clearly connected developments in Pubjab politics.