Panthic politics heats up in Punjab in the absence of strong leaders

Amritsar: Amritsar: Punjab is going to vote in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday which incidentally is the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Four candidates are in the fray who have added to the ongoing churn in the state's politics.In the post-Amrinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal era, the absence of a strong Sikh leader who can take up the issues of Punjab, is strongly felt.Drug menace and main panthic party SAD, led by the Badals, showing signs of visible weakness, helped these - mostly pro-separatist - finding space.

All these were at margins earlier. But in the aftermath of farmers' protest, the rising anti-establishment sentiment has brought them into a reckoning. From Sangrur, pro-Khalistan leader and sitting MP, Simranjit Singh Mann, who heads the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), is one of the candidates.In Bathinda, Lakha Sidhana, a gangster-turned-politician and SAD(A) nominated candidate, radical Sikh preacher jailed Amritpal Singh Khalsa from Khadoor Sahib and Sarabjit Singh Khalsa from Faridkot are in the fray. Sarabjit is the son of Beant Singh, one of the two assassins of Indira Gandhi.

In a Sikh majority state where anti-establishment (Centre) sentiment always finds space, most of these candidates have an inclination towards separatism, adding a new dimension to the multi-cornered contest in the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab.Main political players not able to address drug problems in border areas of Punjab has also forced people to look beyond mainstream players. Therefore the radicals like Amritpal, the jailed candidate, who despite his absence is getting the most traction followed by Sarabjit in Faridkot.


They may win or lose but it just shows that Punjab is desperately looking for a strong Sikh leader.