In Punjab politics, a new round of caste equations is being worked out, with Congress, BJP
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Suspense Crime, Digital Desk : Punjab Assembly Election 2027: Political parties are intensifying their focus on caste politics ahead of the 2026-27 elections in Punjab, with their attention divided among Jat Sikhs, OBCs, and SCs.
Political parties are intensifying their focus on caste politics ahead of the 2026-27 Punjab elections. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), BJP, and Congress are all focused on wooing different communities.
The four parties are formulating a strategy to protect their vote banks while also working on caste equations. They are targeting Jat Sikhs, OBCs, SCs, businessmen, women, and youth.
BJP looking to shed 'Hindu party' image:
In Punjab, Sikhism, representing 57 percent of the population, has traditionally had a majority over Hinduism (38 percent). For years, the BJP in Punjab has traditionally received majority of votes from urban Hindus only. Keeping this in view, the BJP has recently inducted a Sikh Jat leader, Kewal Singh Dhillon, as the state president in a bid to shed its "Hindu party" tag in the state and to strengthen the presence of the party in Sikhs voters, especially among Jat Sikhs, the dominant clan in the state. Moreover, the party is consistently working on the OBC, Saini, and other backward classes votes with a number of programs.
Apparently, the BJP is eyeing the critically important Malwa, Doaba and Majha regions of Punjab. Kewal Singh Dhillon belongs to the Malwa region which covers 69 of the 117 Vidhan Sabha seats of Punjab. The Majha region covers 25 seats and the Doaba region covers 23 seats. In the Malwa region the BJP is increasing its hold on Jat voters through leaders such as Kewal Singh Dhillon, Captain Amarinder Singh and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu while for winning the Dalit vote banks it has leaders such as former union minister Vijay Sampla, former Union Minister of state Som Parkash and former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander.
Strategy of the Akali Dal government:
In Punjab politics the Jat Sikhs have always had a strong hold. The vote bank of Akali Dal has traditional been Jat Sikhs, Panth Sikhs whereas vote bank of Congress was primarily with Jat Sikhs, Dalits, some Hindus. After formation of AAP government in 2022, the votes bank of both the parties have diminished. The Akali Dal is again trying to recapture its vote bank but it has already spread to more than 70 constituencies of Punjab beyond its own vote banks activating the SC/BC, Women's and Youth wing in each of the seats. Additionally, the SAD has appointed Halqa Pradhans (village heads) of business wing in 67 Vidhan Sabha constituencies, an effort to strengthen its hold on the urban vote banks.
Congress is busy strengthening its vote bank at all levels:
Meanwhile, Congress party is trying to win back Dalits and Jat Sikhs and to strengthen its vote bank it is trying to give representation of various social classes at the district level which would ultimately benefit it in regions where its vote banks are weak. Furthermore, to strengthen the party vote bank the congress party has activated its SC wing, OBC wing, Kisan Congress, Mahila Congress, Youth Congress and Business cell at each of the seats.
AAP has formed welfare board:
AAP is trying to ensure to be in power and also to cut short anti-incumbency wave. In 2022 election, the Dalit, rural Malwa and Jat Sikh farmers played a decisive role for the success of AAP government. For reaching out directly to various communities AAP is trying to establish welfare boards at district and Vidhan Sabha level across Punjab. State government has already made 21 state level welfare board on a very large scale to interact with various communities directly at the ground level and take feedback regarding government performance to fight the anti-incumbency wave.
All parties have their own game plans. Will any of the parties be successful in achieving their goals only after the Vidhan Sabha elections to be held next year.
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