MANN IN A CORNER

In a four-cornered contest, the division of votes might work to the advantage of the Congress. It could also help the AAP, which is fighting massive anti-incumbency, save face

- PRAMOD KUMAR

The parliamentary elections in Punjab are not in sync with the national political narrative of kamandal (Ram Mandir) and Mandal (OBC census). There is also not the seriousness to herald any change in the development paradigm or any political will to resolve the farmers’ grievances. The elections, instead, have become a theatrical battle royal of false claims and empty promises.

The electoral outcomes of the 2014 and 2019 parliamentary and the 2022 assembly elections showed that the voters were no longer bound by any political party, and in fact, functioned largely as footloose voters. For instance, in the 2014 elections, the AAP won a surprise four seats and 24 per cent vote share. But in the 2019 elections, the AAP’s vote share decreased to 7 per cent with one seat, the Congress vote share increased to 41 per cent with eight seats, the Akali Dal’s vote share was 28 per cent with two seats, and the BJP vote share was 9 per cent with two seats. Whereas, in the 2022 assembly elections, the AAP resurged with more than 40 per cent vote share and 92 seats. Surprisingly, immediately after this landslide victory, it lost the Sangrur Parliament byelection on a seat vacated by the sitting chief minister.