<p>The results of Assembly elections in Punjab are a "shock" for Congress while the Aam Aadmi Party benefited because of the performance of its government in Delhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said here on Thursday. He also made a pitch for initiating a "process" to give an alternative to the BJP by bringing opposition parties together.</p>.<p>Trends and available results suggested that Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP was on its way to sweep Punjab by ousting Congress.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/with-punjab-aap-reaches-an-inflexion-point-1090015.html" target="_blank">With Punjab, AAP reaches an inflexion point</a></strong></p>.<p>“Punjab is a state where Congress was in power…the change in Punjab is not favourable to the BJP (either). The result gives a shock to the Congress,” Pawar told reporters here. The AAP's governance in Delhi helped it in Punjab as the common people living in the national capital have accepted the Kejriwal-led party, the NCP chief noted.</p>.<p>He also spoke about the need to initiate a process to give an “effective alternative” to the BJP by opposition parties on the basis of a common minimum programme. “I am not saying this will happen tomorrow itself. Parliament's session will resume on March 14. We will all be there for a month. So we will sit together, discuss and decide the future course of action," Pawar said.</p>.<p>“It will be our duty to help people strengthen democracy by taking steps together,” he added.</p>.<p>The veteran leader dismissed the possibility of the poll outcome in five states having any impact on the future of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>The results of Assembly elections in Punjab are a "shock" for Congress while the Aam Aadmi Party benefited because of the performance of its government in Delhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said here on Thursday. He also made a pitch for initiating a "process" to give an alternative to the BJP by bringing opposition parties together.</p>.<p>Trends and available results suggested that Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP was on its way to sweep Punjab by ousting Congress.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/with-punjab-aap-reaches-an-inflexion-point-1090015.html" target="_blank">With Punjab, AAP reaches an inflexion point</a></strong></p>.<p>“Punjab is a state where Congress was in power…the change in Punjab is not favourable to the BJP (either). The result gives a shock to the Congress,” Pawar told reporters here. The AAP's governance in Delhi helped it in Punjab as the common people living in the national capital have accepted the Kejriwal-led party, the NCP chief noted.</p>.<p>He also spoke about the need to initiate a process to give an “effective alternative” to the BJP by opposition parties on the basis of a common minimum programme. “I am not saying this will happen tomorrow itself. Parliament's session will resume on March 14. We will all be there for a month. So we will sit together, discuss and decide the future course of action," Pawar said.</p>.<p>“It will be our duty to help people strengthen democracy by taking steps together,” he added.</p>.<p>The veteran leader dismissed the possibility of the poll outcome in five states having any impact on the future of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>