A representative image (Source: News 18)
Bharat, the greatest and largest democracy in the world, recently conducted its Parliamentary polls for the 18th Lok Sabha. The polls, held over seven phases, were conducted in a smooth and peaceful manner. Once more, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) gained an absolute majority. The alliance unanimously elected Shri Narendra Modi as its leader for the third time and requested him to form the Government.
On June 9, 2024, Shri Narendra Modi took oath to the office of Prime Minister of India for a historic third consecutive term in a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The first set of his council of Ministers also took oath of office along with him.
The State of Punjab, comprising 13 Parliamentary seats, went for polls in the last phase on June 1, 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had, since its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1998, fought the Parliamentary elections only on three seats. In September 2020, the alliance broke down and BJP fought the Vidhan Sabha election in 2022 independently, albeit on a restricted number of seats.
In the run-up to the Parliamentary elections, there was a segment of the regional leadership of the party that advocated re-alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). A majority of karyakartas (workers) of the party, however, were against this advocacy since they had worked very hard to create a rooted organisation and generated a groundswell of public goodwill for the party. Ultimately, the national-level party leadership gave the green signal for fighting elections independently. The BJP fielded candidates in all 13 seats. Punjab witnessed a five-cornered contest of major parties including Congress, SAD, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). In the final tally declared on June 4, BJP failed to record a win. The winners were Congress (seven) AAP (three) SAD (one) and independents (two).
Surge in Vote Share
The BJP, however, has much to cheer about in Punjab. It took a massive three-times leap in vote share from about 6.6 per cent in the Vidhan Sabha election of 2022 to 18.56 per cent in this election. The party has surpassed SAD in vote share and is behind AAP and Congress in a single digit. The number of votes of BJP increased in 12 Parliament constituencies, while AAP votes decreased in all constituencies, SAD decreased in 12 and Congress in 6. The party also got a winning vote share in 23 Vidhan Sabha constituencies and came a close second in nine. Undoubtedly, the party has established firm roots in Punjab and is poised to come across strongly in the forthcoming polls for the Panchayats and local bodies and then in the Vidhan Sabha election of 2027.
Shunning Politics of Freebies
The Parliamentary elections have clearly indicated the rejection of AAP politics of freebies and massive misgovernance, wherein, no promise made has been kept over the last two and a half years. The people have also turned their faces from the Panthic agenda that forms the fundamentals of SAD. AAP and Congress, overtly fought the elections independently but covertly they had joined hands as part of the I.N.D.I. Alliance. Therefore, BJP had to stand up against the political onslaught of all three parties (Congress, AAP, SAD) combined. It was a very big challenge indeed.
The Opposition took great pains to label BJP as a Hindu party. The balloon burst when BJP fielded five Jat Sikhs, five SC/OBC and only three Hindus for the Parliament polls. In the domain of gender representation also, BJP remained in an affirmative position by fielding three women contestants. Congress fielded two women contestants and SAD fielded one; AAP did not field any woman.
The main reason behind the success of the BJP was creation of a strong pan-Punjab Sangathan (organisation) in a short period of time. The dedicated party cadre was created by the untiring efforts of all Karyakartas. Today BJP, Punjab has a presence in all booths of Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha constituencies
A sterling contribution was also made by the media team of the party. Spokespersons of the party remained under attack by all other parties combined and also many anchors. They faced humiliation with courage and resilience and gave counterarguments based on data and logic with exemplary restraint and confidence. The courage shown by spokespersons had a positive and motivating effect on the party cadre on ground. The tremendous support that came from the Centre was a big force multiplier.
The fact that there is no representation in the Parliament from the ruling NDA dispensation would be perceived as a huge setback for the future of the State. However, NDA, under the dynamic leadership and vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has offset this perceived setback by inducting one leader, Ravneet Singh to the Council of Ministers despite his not being a member of the upper or the lower house. He will be given a seat in the upper house to ensure his continuance as a Union Minister of State. Hardeep Puri, another Sikh who had earlier fought elections in Punjab and was a Minister in the earlier dispensation, has retained his berth. This apart, a tall Sikh leader from Punjab, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, is the Chairman, the National Commission for Minorities and also a member of the party Parliamentary Board and Election Committee.
It is apparent that the Union Government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is determined to give great importance to Punjab and is poised to work toward the development and progress of the State on priority. The importance that successive BJP Governments have been given indicates the fact that BJP leaders, and most of all Prime Minister Narendra Modi, retain a special place for Punjabis, especially Sikhs, in their hearts. They are convinced about the nationalist spirit of the Punjabi community, spearheaded by the Sikhs, and wish to nurture it with all means at the disposal of the nation.
The BJP also understands the strategic importance of the State as a national frontier bordering a belligerent enemy, which makes all efforts to spread dissent and divisiveness in the region through multiple means. The concept of soft separatism and giving winds to the sails of the so-called Khalistani movement have a direct connection with Pakistan and its like-minded allies across the world. The BJP leadership is aware of the challenges that Punjab faces and is always ready to help overcome the same.
It is quite apparent that the incumbent AAP Government is totally incapable of addressing the grave problems that Punjab is facing. AAP has no answers to the rising debt burden that will soon propel the State into a debt trap. AAP also has no plans in place to contest the rising problems of unemployment, health crisis, environment degradation, drugs, and most of all, the deteriorating law and order situation. Punjab’s downslide needs to be checked in time.
The responsibility of checking this downslide now falls on the Union Government. It will have to apply all policy and constitutional means to ensure that the hapless State stays afloat and pursues the path of social, political and economic resurrection. Many hurdles, mostly in the form of foreign involvement and sponsorship, pose challenges that the Union Government and the people of the State will have to jointly overcome.
Writing On the Wall
The most important element for overcoming this challenge is the people. It is time for the people to understand where their interest lies and become a part of the path ensuring peace and prosperity rather than confrontation engineered by divisive forces. Personal prejudices will have to make way for reason and logic. It is time for the people to read the writing on the wall. An inability to pursue the progressive and righteous path will lead to the complete dissemination of this ancient civilisation.
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