Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab: High over victory, 20-odd farm groups to test political prowess this election

BATHINDA: On a high after forcing the Union government to repeal the three contentious farm laws last year, nearly 20 farmer groups have joined active politics to capitalise on their unprecedented achievement. They have come together to form a political front, Sanyukt Samaj Morcha with senior farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal as its chief ministerial candidate. These groups have held a number of meetings and finer details are being worked out to register their political front. However, with polls barely five weeks away, they could even opt to contest independently. A common minimum programme is also being prepared for the elections and the issues concerning farmers and other sections of society are being identified. Senior farmer leader Ruldu Singh Mansa, who is part of SSM, told TOI: “Over 20 farmer groups are together to contest the elections. Apart from farmer organisations, the other social and civil society groups too are coming together. We are collecting details to get the morcha registered with the Election Commission of India as we want that all the contestants get a common symbol. The elections will be contested under the leadership of Rajewal. The electioneering will be started very soon.” The morcha was involved in talks with Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal for an alliance but no formal announcement has been made till now. Even as AAP has already declared over 100 candidates for the 117-member assembly, it is still not clear whether the farmer morcha will have an alliance with AAP or it will contest all the seats on its own. The morcha had initially claimed on December 25, when the political front was announced, that it would contest all seats on its own. The insiders, however, say that the possibility of any alliance with AAP has diminished. Going by it, the SSM has started widening its ambit by taking along various other groups like writers, singers, intellectuals, academics, and even retired civil servants. Haryana-based farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni too has formed his own political outfit, Sanyukt Sangharsh Party, and announced it would contest elections in Punjab. Charuni, however, was clear that he would not contest the polls. “We are ready to contest the elections and soon the first list of candidates will be announced. Our candidates have started the campaigning,” Charuni told TOI. It is not yet clear whether Charuni’s Sanyukt Sangharsh Party will have any tie-up with the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha. Charuni, who faced disciplinary action from SKM for indicating his interest in active politics during the farmers’ agitation, confirmed some talks have been held with Sanyukt Samaj Morcha for some kind of alliance, but not much headway has been till now.

The Times of India

2022-01-09