Democracy ushered in despite low turnout

Chandigarh, January 8, 2017

Punjab almost went to the polls in 1991. Various militant bodies rejected the proposal. On June 7, 1991, an explosion rocked the convoy of Subodh Kant Sahay, a Union Minister of State for Home, near Ludhiana, where he was contesting elections. There were attacks on people and 29 candidates were killed before the Election Commission cancelled the polls a day before the scheduled date. 

The 1991 Central elections, too, were marred by violence, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Eventually, a new Congress government, headed by P V Narasimha Rao, was formed on June 21, 1991. 

Punjab had been under President's rule since 1987. KPS Gill, who had been transferred to Delhi as the head of the CRPF, was brought back. By November 1991, the Disturbed Areas Act was imposed, according the three lakh security personnel deployed in the state sweeping powers. 

They were mandated to ensure that the scheduled February 1992 elections took place. Militants again announced boycott of the elections and tried to derail the process. Posters were distributed to warn and threaten candidates and there were a number of killings of potential voters. 

Akali Dal leaders vacillated about participating in the polls. There was much confusion, and eventually most of them did not contest. Only Akali Dal (Kabul) was in the fray. It won two seats, including one of its leader, Capt Amarinder Singh. 

On the other hand, the Congress, led by its state president Beant Singh, ran an organised campaign. The security forces ensured that no candidate was killed and the election was held as scheduled. 

Only 21.6 per cent of the voters cast their ballot (it was 67.6 per cent in 1985). This, however, was enough to usher in change and end the long President's rule under which a succession of state governors had administered Punjab. 

In the absence of participation by mainstream Akalis, the Congress won two-thirds majority with 87 out of 115 seats. Beant Singh became Chief Minister. The BSP, with nine seats, became the main opposition party. Joining it on the opposition benches was the BJP — with six seats.