Politics of Punjab, India

{{Short description|Politics of the contemporary Indian state of Punjab (1967–present)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}

Politics in reorganised present-day Punjab is dominated by mainly three parties – Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/ht-explainer-three-years-short-of-100-sad-s-struggle-for-a-comeback/story-dNcd4mFnzfd5QKMNvh6n7K.html|title=HT Explainer: Three years short of 100, SAD's struggle for a comeback|date=2017-12-15|work=HindustanTimes|access-date=2018-08-14|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/punjabs-tryst-with-destiny-3099537/|title=Punjab's tryst with destiny|date=2016-10-24|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-08-14|language=en-US}} Since 1967, Chief Minister of Punjab has been predominantly from Jat Sikh community despite its 21 percent state population.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/dalit-votes-to-decide-ruling-party-of-punjab-89788-2012-01-16|title=Dalit votes to decide ruling party of Punjab|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2018-08-23}}{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Why-only-a-Jat-Sikh-can-become-Punjab-CM-questions-ousted-Cong-leader/articleshow/9817416.cms|title=Why only a Jat Sikh can become Punjab CM, questions ousted Cong leader - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-08-23}}{{cite web | last=Kumar | first=Pramod | title=The Punjab poll vault | website=The Tribune | date=2017-01-11 | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/the-punjab-poll-vault/348647.html | access-date=2018-08-23}} Exceptions are Giani Zail Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab from 17 March 1972 to 30 April 1977 belonging to Ramgarhia community{{Cite web|url=https://www.nagpurtoday.in/ramgarhia-forum-appeals-cm-fadnavis-for-obc-status-to-ramgarhia-sikhs-in-state/04281232|title=Ramgarhia Forum appeals CM Fadnavis for OBC status to Ramgarhia Sikhs in state|website=nagpurtoday.in|date=28 April 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-23}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/8046-amarinder-challenges-cm-badal-lambi|title=Amarinder challenges CM Badal from Lambi - The Sunday Guardian Live|date=2017-01-15|work=The Sunday Guardian Live|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en-US}} that has population of 6 percent and is a part of significant OBC community having population of 31.3 percent in the state and Charanjit Singh Channi who held the position for 111 days from 20 September 2021 to 16 March 2022 and was from Scheduled Caste(Dalit) who have 32 percent population in the state.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-elections-2017/punjab-assembly-election-2017/story/amarinder-singh-few-dalits-in-punjab-cabinet-jat-sikhs-rule-965945-2017-03-16|title=Amarinder Singh cabinet has 3 Dalits despite 32 per cent vote share, Jat Sikhs continue to rule Punjab|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2018-08-23}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/punjab-congress-faces-rebellion-over-lack-of-representation-for-dalits-111154.html|title=Punjab Congress faces rebellion over lack of representation for Dalits|work=CatchNews.com|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en}} Other prominent party is Bahujan Samaj Party especially in Doaba region{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/in-doaba-bsp-promoting-ambedkarite-culture-to-politically-awaken-dalits-5679495/|title=Punjab: In Doaba, BSP promoting 'Ambedkarite culture' to 'politically awaken' Dalits|date=2019-04-17|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-08-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/bsp-mayawati-punjab-elephant-emerges-the-dark-horse-5748855/|title=Elephant emerges the dark horse in Punjab|date=2019-05-26|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-08-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/bsps-punjab-surprise-three-candidates-finish-third-fares-better-than-aap-2158685.html|title=BSP's Punjab Surprise: Three Candidates Finish Third, Fares Better Than AAP|website=News18|date=24 May 2019 |access-date=2019-08-08}}{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/bsp-gains-in-punjab-amid-pda-thrashing/articleshow/69471908.cms|title=BSP gains in Punjab amid PDA thrashing |website=The Times of India|date=24 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-08}} founded by Kanshi Ram of Rupnagar district.{{cite journal | title=Kanshi Ram and the Making of Dalit Political Agency | journal=Economic and Political Weekly | volume=56 | issue=3 | date=2021-01-16 | pages=7–8 | url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2021/3/special-articles/kanshi-ram-and-making-dalit-political-agency.html | access-date=2021-01-19}} In 1992 BSP won 9 seats Vidhan Sabha elections.{{cite web | title=Punjab Assembly Election Results in 1992 | website=Elections.in | date=11 April 2014 | url=http://www.elections.in/punjab/assembly-constituencies/1992-election-results.html | access-date=21 May 2016}} Also BSP won 3 lok sabha seats from Punjab in 1996 general elections{{cite book|last1=Roy|first1=Meenu|title=India Votes, Elections 1996: A Critical Analysis|year=1996|page=198|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=9788171009008|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wm2dVWi-2I4C&q=PUNJAB+lok+sabha+election+results+1996&pg=PA198}}

{{cite web|title=Result Of Punjab In 1996|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/politics/electionstats/stateresult/1996/s19.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123041819/http://ibnlive.in.com/politics/electionstats/stateresult/1996/s19.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-23}} and only Garhshanker seat in 1997 Vidhan Sabha elections.{{cite web | title=In 1997, the BSP won Vidhan Sabha seat of Garhshankar | website=hindustantimes.com/ | date=18 May 2013 | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/bsp-announces-4-nominees-in-punjab/story-kPAoiJe67qVmmMyAhHwsKM.html | access-date=21 May 2016}} Communist parties too have some influence in the Malwa area.{{cite web|last1=Kumar|first1=P|title=Coalition Politics in Punjab in E. Sridharan|url=http://www.idcindia.org/pdf/elections/Coalition%20politics%20in%20Punjab_Dr_Pramod.pdf|access-date=21 May 2016|archive-date=5 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705124337/http://www.idcindia.org/pdf/elections/Coalition%20politics%20in%20Punjab_Dr_Pramod.pdf|url-status=dead}} In the 2014 general elections, the first-time contesting Aam Aadmi Party got 4 out of 13 seats in Punjab by winning 34 of the total 117 assembly segments, coming second in 7, third in 73 and fourth in the rest 3 segments.{{cite web|title=Details of Assembly Segments of Parliamentary Constituencies - General Elections, 2014 - 16th Lok Sabha (page 946 of 1698)|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/34%20-%20Details%20of%20Assembly%20segment%20of%20PC.pdf#page=946|publisher=Election Commission of India}} The support for the Aam Aadmi Party increased later in Punjab.{{cite web | last=N | first=TN | title=Other party netas lining up for AAP | website=The Times of India | date=20 May 2014 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Other-party-netas-lining-up-for-AAP/articleshow/35361782.cms | access-date=21 May 2016}}{{cite web | last=Mohan | first=Vibhor | title=AAP may face problem of plenty in choosing candidates for bypolls | website=The Times of India | date=21 May 2014 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AAP-may-face-problem-of-plenty-in-choosing-candidates-for-bypolls/articleshow/35399210.cms | access-date=21 May 2016}} The current Government was elected in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections and the AAP won 92 out of 117 Assembly seats with Bhagwant Mann as the Chief Minister. The Congress flows down to get only 18 seats.