2 weeks ago
Why Punjab's Farmer Leaders Fail at Electoral Politics
In 2020 and 2021, many farmers in India protested against new farm laws.
Farmer groups from across the country, including more than 32 groups from Punjab, came together, and the government eventually removed the laws.
After this success, some farmer leaders thought they could also win elections.
So 22 leaders from Punjab formed a new group called the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha and joined another group named the Sanyukt Sangharsh Party.
They put candidates in 117 election areas in Punjab in 2022.
But they did not win a single seat and received only about 1.5 out of every 100 votes.
The leaders said they did not run for power but to improve the system.
Other farmer leaders, like Joginder Singh Ugrahan, said farmer groups should stay out of politics and work as pressure groups.
Experts say the leaders lost because their support was not spread evenly and was mostly in one region called Malwa.
After the defeat, no farmer union has announced plans to contest the 2027 elections.
Over 400 farmer unions, including more than 32 from Punjab, united under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) during the 2020-21 agitation that led to the repeal of the three farm laws.
Twenty-two of the 32 Punjab farmer union leaders formed the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM) and allied with the Sanyukt Sangharsh Party (SSP) to contest the 2022 Punjab assembly elections.
Because the SSM could not register with the Election Commission of India, its nominees contested as Independents in 117 assembly constituencies but won no seats.
The alliance secured a dismal vote share of around 1.5 per cent, with Balbir Singh Rajewal polling 4,676 votes in Samrala and other leaders securing fewer than 4,000 votes each.
Experts say the rout reflected a lack of full backing from the Malwa region, where most of Punjab's farmer unions are concentrated, and leaders like Joginder Singh Ugrahan kept unions apolitical.
- Who
- Punjab farmer union leaders, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Charuni and Joginder Singh Ugrahan, along with analysts at the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh.
- What
- A farmer-leader political alliance, the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha and Sanyukt Sangharsh Party, contested the 2022 Punjab assembly elections and won no seats.
- Where
- Punjab, India, across 117 assembly constituencies, with the allied Sanyukt Sangharsh Party based in Haryana.
- When
- The 2022 Punjab assembly elections, following the 2020-21 farmers' agitation and the October 2020 Haryana assembly poll from Pehowa.
- Why
- Leaders mistook the emotional support of the agitation for electoral strength but lacked money, muscle power and party machinery, and lacked full backing from Malwa-based unions.
Farmer Leaders Entering Politics
Unions Staying Apolitical
Farmer Unions in Electoral Politics
Farmer Leaders Entering Politics
Leaders like Balbir Singh Rajewal said they contested the 2022 election on public demand to save Punjab, asserting they did not contest for power but to improve the system.
Unions Staying Apolitical
Joginder Singh Ugrahan of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) opposed politicising the farmer agitation and maintained that farmer unions should remain apolitical and continue to work as a pressure group.
Cause of the Electoral Rout
Farmer Leaders Entering Politics
Gurnam Singh Charuni said the alliance contested purely on moral support because, unlike mainstream parties, it lacked money, muscle power and party machinery.
Unions Staying Apolitical
Prof Varinder Sharma said the lack of full backing from the farmer-union stronghold Malwa, especially BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), proved decisive in the total rout.
Key facts
- Movement
- 2020-21 farmers' agitation against the three farm laws, which were later repealed
- Farmer unions involved
- Over 400 nationally under SKM; more than 32 from Punjab
- Political alliance
- Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM) and Sanyukt Sangharsh Party (SSP)
- Seats contested
- 117 assembly constituencies in Punjab, as Independents
- Election result
- Zero seats won; vote share of around 1.5 per cent
- Best individual showing
- Balbir Singh Rajewal, 4,676 votes from Samrala
- Strongest farmer union
- BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), based in the Malwa belt
- 2027 prospects
- No farmer union has announced plans to contest the 2027 assembly elections
Quotes
Joginder Singh Ugrahan
Head of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and prominent farmer union leader
“"Unlike the mainstream political parties which have both money and muscle power, we contested the election purely on moral support. We understand that contesting an election requires not only massive resources but also a party machinery," he said.”
NDTV
“"We didn't contest the election for power but to improve the system," he said.”
NDTV
Sources
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