Punjab was mostly a two-corner contest till AAP came into the picture in the last Assembly elections held in 2017. However, close on the heels of the year-long farmers’ agitation, Punjab is now staring at a multi-corner contest with the 22 farmer unions, which were once part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), jumping into the poll fray.
Last week, they announced a combined political outfit, the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM). In addition to this, farmers' leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni has announced his political outfit, Samyukta Sangharsh Party, saying that the party will fight the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. While the political parties have been in a race to woo farmers, the mainstream political parties are wary of the new entrants as the state, which has 117 Assembly seats, goes to the polls early next year.
Besides the SSM, AAP, Congress, SAD-BSP, BJP along with Captain Amarinder's party, the PLC, and SAD (Sanyukt) are in the fray this poll season. Smaller parties and independents will also fight to woo voters.
The past year has been exhausting for the farmers, but the victorious march back home after the repeal of the three contentious farm laws was worth it, many said. But they feel the fight for them is not over yet. Overwhelming support came in for the farmers from the agrarian state. The worry for the other parties is that the new entrants may cause some real damage.
SUPPORT FOR SANYUKT SAMAJ MORCHA
Speaking to India Today, a farmer in Chunni village said: "We will support the new party, Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, as no one else thinks about farmers.”
Gagandeep, a young farmer, wearing a branded red jacket and sporting a crew cut said: "This party will be our voice. Our fight is not over. Look at the fuel price hike and the toll tax. MSP remains our main issue. And I believe there will be overwhelming support for this party as the majority in Punjab stay in rural areas.”
PARTIES WARY OF NEW ENTRANTS
The political parties are more guarded in their response though. Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadda said: "It is still early to comment [on the farmers’ party]. Our party stands with the farmers. They have suffered because of the BJP. How will the people (of the state) vote for this party?”
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni from Congress said: "This is a democracy. Everyone is welcome to join politics. Our party has stood with farmers, and we will continue to do so.”
The state BJP unit, meanwhile, is preparing for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally slated for January 5. BJP leader Subash Sharma said: "The elections are being fought under the leadership of PM Modi. The people and farmers trust him." “The farmers are welcome to form their own party. But we are a party that has worked for the development and the welfare of the farmers.”
Farmers’ votes will be decisive in the Punjab elections and every political party knows this. This is why they are racing to woo farmers. While the Akalis are emphasising that they have severed their ties with BJP just for the farmers, Congress has announced a memorial for the farmers who died during the agitation. The BJP and the AAP, too, are aggressively campaigning to reach out to the farmers.
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