Now, Punjab parties shift focus on OBC, Hindu voters

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24

In poll-bound Punjab, political parties are now scrambling to grab the sizeable non-Jat vote bank, the OBC and Hindus.

After playing the Scheduled Card card in installing Dalit Sikh CM Charanjit Singh Channi, the Congress’ focus now is on the 31 per cent vote share of the OBCs and 12 per cent of the Hindus.

May tilt election outcome

• After appointing an SC Chief Minister, the Congress’ focus is now on 31% vote share of OBCs and 12% of Hindus
• Capt Amarinder Singh, having decided to form a new party, is also wooing leaders of the two communities
• SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal is learnt to be in touch with Cong’s second-rung leaders who have been sidelined

While the party leadership looks to reach out to its disgruntled Hindu and OBC leaders, former CM Capt Amarinder Singh, having announced his decision to form a new political party, is also wooing leaders of the two communities.

As the former CM has hinted at a pre-poll alliance with the BJP in the event of a favourable solution to farmers’ stir, the OBC and Hindu vote bank will play a key role in tiling the outcome of the results.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal is learnt to be trying to poach Congress’ second-rung Hindu and OBC leaders who have not been politically rehabilitated during the four-and-half-year Congress rule. Already, Sukhbir is said to be in parleys with prominent leaders who enjoy considerable support among the two communities. Cabinet minister and PCC working president Sangat Singh Gilzian said neither Akalis nor Captain Amarinder during their rule bothered about the OBCs. “Given the 31 per cent OBC vote share, due representation should be given to them in power sharing,” he said.

Having influence in Anandpur Sahib, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Patiala and Ferozepur parliamentary segments, the OBC leaders are reportedly upset at not being rehabilitated in the political setup over the years.

Former PCC chief Sunil Jakhar said the division on caste and religion lines was against the spirit of the Congress. “The moment the caste and religion come in, the Congress will lose its character”.

After Charanjit Singh, son of Congress stalwart Dilbagh Singh, quit the Congress in 2016, no OBC leader has been groomed from the Doaba region so far. “After late Gaini Zail Singh, the Ramgarhia community has been sidelined by the party,” said Rajpal Singh, a senior OBC Congress leader.