Can Mann-Kejriwal Tackle Punjab’s Many Challenges?

Kejriwal’s centralised way of governance might work in Delhi, but Punjab will call for delegation, observes Sanjeev Nayyar.

The Punjab elections results took all by surprise. Why did the Aam Aadmi Party win and what are the challenges that lie ahead?

The people of Punjab were fed up with the Akalis and Congress as both failed to provide good governance, not to forget their wooing of the Sikh clergy.

The farmers agitation was written in Delhi, but directed by Captain Amarinder Singh.

Life evens out is a popular phrase. Jaise karni waise bharni is another. Both apply to Captain Singh.

Strange are the ways of the Congress high command. Till about a year ago, it seemed like the Congress, under Captain Singh’s leadership, was going to retain Punjab.

Then the farmers agitation started, Captain’s leadership questioned, Navjot Sidhu made state Congress chief and Charanjit Singh Channi replaced Captain Singh.

Why was Sidhu given so much importance when the Congress had not even won an assembly election under his leadership, remains a mystery.

  • ‘Sidhu wrecked the Congress in Punjab’

The Congress hoped the farmers agitation would dislodge the Modi government, but!

AAP supported the farmers agitation. This got it support in Punjab, but not in western Uttar Pradesh.

This columnist, including many others, said that making Channi (who belongs to the Chamar community of Ramdasia Sikhs) as chief minister was a good move since about 30% of Punjab’s population belongs to the Backward Classes.

But the Congress move backfired. After all, since Punjab state was formed in 1966, Channi was probably only the second non-Jat Sikh to become CM, the first being Giani Zail Singh who belonged to the carpenter community (of Ramgariya Sikhs).

At the time of Channi’s appointment, I wrote that it is not known how the Jat Sikhs would respond to this downgrading of their political status.

AAP realised the importance of having a Jat Sikh as CM so Bhagwant Mann was declared its candidate. Also, the backward classes votes probably got split which benefited AAP.

In a sense, the Jat Sikhs have hit back. With Mann as CM, their stranglehold over Punjab’s politics continues.

Mann’s speech in Sangrur after the election victory on Thursday, March 10, referred to Bhagat Singh (a Jat) and B R Ambedkar. Clearly, Jat Sikhs and Backward Classes are AAP’s vote bank.

As we have seen in Delhi, Kejriwal is clear who his vote bank is (Muslims and auto drivers) and does not really care about what the rest think.

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