With the Punjab Government announcing a reduction in the power tariff up to 20 per cent for certain categories at the weekend despite facing a severe financial crunch, the election bugle has been truly sounded in the State with this populist move.
To be held in February-March next year, Assembly elections are 7-8 months away but political activity has increased the summer temperature in the border State. Two main rivals of the ruling Congress — AAP and SAD — too have upped the ante, targeting both the State and Central Governments on a host of issues ranging from Covid management, farmers’ protest to economic distress and rising inflation.
The main player at the moment — the Congress — has escaped unhurt from the political attacks of its rivals, deflecting the crisis at the Centre while taking credit wherever it possibly can. Of course, it is facing heat from within with firebrand leader and former Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu leading the charge against Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
All attempts to thrash out a truce between Sidhu and Captain have failed till now. A couple of Cabinet Ministers and two Rajya Sabha MPs too have joined hands, forcing the Congress high command to form a panel to thrash out the differences within the party.
Coming on to the fourth party in the electoral scenario, the BJP, the situation on the ground is worrisome. Not that the leaders are not aware of it. They know for sure that the farm Acts have completely washed out whatever little support it had in the state.
Ironically, despite Governments in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the BJP has been completely marginalised in the State after its dominant ally, SAD, walked away from the Central Government and broke its almost three decade long alliance with the saffron party last year on the three contentious agricultural Acts.
The BJP’s problem has been compounded by a complete boycott of its leaders by every farmer organisation so much so that the leaders have been provided police protection when they move out and do not go out for political functions.
To be held under the backdrop of the farmers’ protest, the polls would see a fierce attack and counter attacks on each other in the days and weeks from now on who is the “real benefactor” of the farmers. The abuses hurled at political opponents and the colorful and multi-meaning slangs would only intensify now.
As of now, there seems to be no end to the impasse between the farmers and the Central Government and there is no indication whatsoever that the Modi Government would take back the Acts as demanded by the farmers’ organisation. So it’s almost certain that the three contending parties - the Congress, the SAD and the AAP - would fight the polls claiming to be the “real champions” of the farmers in the State.
Amid the cacophony of who is the “real benefactor” of the farmers, the Congress has managed to have an edge by making all the right noises and also passing Bills in the State Assembly to negate the Central Acts. These may be political stunts as the bills would remain pending with the Governor “forever” but they managed to take the message across that they mean business.
But at the weekend, the decision of the farmers, under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan to start a three-day protest in the hometown of Capt Amarinder, alleging that the Central and State Governments failed to act against the spread of Covid has increased the worry lines of the Chief Minister. He now knows for sure that the Congress cannot take the support of the farmers for granted and has to mean business in the next few weeks and months to woo them to his party’s camp for good.