Archive · 30 Jul 2026
NRI Punjabis Disillusioned Over Punjab Election Promises and Future
Many Punjabis living abroad, called NRIs, went to India to vote in the 2022 Punjab elections.
They expected the government to fix problems like bad roads and farmers’ worries, but they felt nothing changed.
Some NRIs say their houses and farms are being taken by bad people.
A group that helps NRIs, the NRI Sabha, has lost most of its members.
The election office may also delete some NRI voters from the list, making it harder for them to vote.
NRIs traveled to India for the 2022 assembly elections but felt promises were unfulfilled.
They cite law‑and‑order problems, corruption, and property loss as reasons for disengagement.
The NRI Sabha membership fell from 17,000 in 2013 to 170 in 2020.
The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process may delete up to 12.8% of Chandigarh NRI voters.
Former NRI Sabha president Jasvir Singh Gill criticized inadequate protection of NRI property rights under amended rent laws.
- Who
- NRI Punjabis, political parties, and election officials
- What
- Discontent over unmet promises and declining NRI participation in Punjab elections
- When
- 2022 Punjab assembly elections
- Where
- Punjab, India and abroad
- Why
- Persistent law‑and‑order issues, corruption, and inadequate protection of NRI property rights
- Event
- NRI disillusionment with Punjab elections
- Year
- 2022
- Key parties
- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
- NRI Sabha membership drop
- 17,000 in 2013 to 170 in 2020
- SIR deletion rate in Chandigarh
- 12.81%