COLOURFUL COMBAT

Punjab is witnessing a multi-cornered contest for the first time.Winning the border state will not be a cakewalk for any party

- PRATUL SHARMA

If one colour-codes the Punjab elections, one would find the contests have been between white and blue in the past five decades. The present assembly polls have witnessed three more colours: yellow, green and saffron, turning it into a riot of colours, thus making the choice difficult for the people.

Politicians in Punjab had adopted particular colours for their turbans to project a distinct identity for themselves. Congressmen have mostly worn white turbans, though former prime minister Manmohan Singh popularised sky blue. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders have traditionally worn navy blue turbans. As Punjab politics has been bipolar since the state was carved out in 1966, these two colours dominated. If Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is often seen sporting a white turban, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal generally prefers the trademark navy blue.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which is making a renewed bid to gain power, has picked yellow; its chief minister candidate, Bhagwant Mann, prefers yellow turbans. “I adopted yellow as I am a hardcore Bhagat Singh fan—this was his colour,” he told THE WEEK.

The farmers’ union leaders who have formed the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha predominantly wear green turbans. Its president and chief ministerial candidate Balbir Singh Rajewal is green himself. Saffron nationally denotes the BJP.

Punjab is witnessing a multi-cornered contest for the first time. Every seat has five candidates and every party is promising to change Punjab. The state faces many deeply dark issues such as corruption, unemployment and drug menace. The winner of the elections on February 20 will surely face some hard challenges.