By Jaideep Sarin. Punjab, India, 05:34 PM IST

Punjab's ruling Congress and the opposition Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine are promising the electorate to provide wheat at Rs.4 per kg and pulses at Rs.20 per kg.

Given the spiralling prices of these essentials in recent months, the promised rates might fill many empty stomachs but are giving political indigestion to some others.

The 117 assembly seats in Punjab go to polls Feb 13 and both sides are trying their best to woo voters.

'This is nothing but a 420 promise (cheating) - Rs.4 for flour and Rs.20 for pulses. The leaders of both sides know that giving these rates would be quite difficult,' said a Congress leader from Hoshiarpur.

Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with cheating, and '420' is normally associated with wrongdoing.

By Jaideep Sarin (Staff Writer, © IANS)