Why Are the Punjab Elections Different This Time?

This time around, Punjab's political war will see numerous firsts, from unexpected alliances to 'fresh' entrants to the emergence of 'ground' issues. The state's single phase of voting has begun, pitting Congress's first Dalit CM Charanjit Singh Channi against his opponents, including the grand old party's 'forsaken' leader Capt Amarinder Singh, who has now formed his own party, and the Aam Aadmi Party's 'people's choice' Bhagwant Mann.

While the polling findings will be closely scrutinised, it will be fascinating to examine the range of circumstances that may influence the larger picture on March 10. Too many cooks spoil the broth, but will this blending of concerns in Punjab produce a clear image, or will the outcomes be as confusing as the current political situation? Let's have a look at some examples:

Ahead on the Curve of Traditional Polling Issues

Traditional themes including as anti-incumbency, sacrilege, police firings, drugs, and mafias have long dominated the poll rhetoric in Punjab. The state, on the other hand, has made a stride forward this time, with newer challenges testing the waters. With the Aam Aadmi Party's relentless messaging on the one hand, and the Congress's failure to represent the need for change in its politics on the other, 'change' and 'development' have emerged as two of the most essential factors. These elections may be more about replacing the old and tried actors and topics than about the quality of candidates.

 All political parties, on the other hand, have pledged to address the state's "drug problem." "However, little has been done to provide tangible remedies. Both the Congress and the AAP vowed action against the "drug syndicate" during the 2017 assembly elections ", but were unable to find workable solutions.

Alliances 
After 25 years, the Shiromani Akal Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party are once again pitted against one another. While the BJP has been a minor participant for many years, it is aiming to establish itself as a big force this time, albeit in conjunction with Captain Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa's SAD (Sanyukt). 

Despite this, the Akali Dal is making the struggle triangular in the majority of seats, leaving the BJP to its old strongholds and a few other seats.

PM Modi's track record is accepted by the people of Punjab, according to BJP leader Ashwani Sharma, who spoke to sources . "Our strong argument is Prime Minister Modi's seven and a half years in power at the Centre. The people of Punjab are fed up with the previous government's failed governance models. They've witnessed PM Modi's governance style and know he's brought about significant changes across the country, and now it's time for Punjab to reap the benefits of his effective leadership," Sharma had said.

In addition, the Akali Dal's coalition with the Bahujan Samaj Party is projected to cost the Congress some ground. Despite this, the SAD-BSP does not have a clear edge because the Congress has selected Punjab's first Dalit Sikh chief minister, Charanjit Singh Channi, as its chief ministerial face. The BSP's stronghold is from the same caste as Channi. Among electors from scheduled caste communities, there are significant social and political inconsistencies.

In its election manifesto, the SAD-BSP coalition promises 75 percent reservation in government and private sector jobs for Punjabi youths, as well as MSP on fruits, vegetables, and milk, among other benefits, if it is elected to power in the state.

Internal Disputes in Congress

While Channi was chosen as the Congress's CM face, he and Navjot Singh Sidhu both stated that they would obey the central leadership's orders. However, the Congress's factionalism did not abate in the run-up to the elections. "No one can defeat the Congress; only the Congress can defeat itself," Sidhu recently stated. 

At this stage, the factionalism is not restricted to Channi and Sidhu. Many relatives of Congress candidates are running for office, either on their own or on the ticket of another political party.

"Factionalism has always been there in the Congress, but it never got to the stage where it is now," a close colleague of former chief minister Harcharan Singh Brar said. It would not have gotten to this point if the high command had made Sidhu the CM when Captain (Amarinder Singh) quit. It's a another storey if the Congress would have won the elections if he had been the CM." 

He went on to say that the quality of politics has deteriorated. "The media spotlight is one cause for this." He claimed that this will have an impact on Congress on a national level as well.

Majority, rather than dynasty

Another first is that the primary faces of the parties are not from well-known political families. Channi, Sidhu, and Bhagwant Mann are some examples. The BJP used the Ram temple issue in assembly elections after utilising it in parliamentary elections. The AAP also brought Tiranga Yatras to the state for the first time.

Sikh and SC voters overwhelmingly supported AAP in the 2014 and 2017 elections, whereas Hindus primarily supported the Congress and BJP. This time, several Sikhs have questioned AAP, and the party is hoping to syphon Hindu votes from the BJP, despite the fact that the saffron party has strengthened its support among them.

Also read : Shatrughan Sinha criticizes CS Channi over ‘Bhaiya’ comment