Politics of Punjab, India

Politics in reorganised present-day Punjab is dominated by mainly three parties – Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).^[1][2] Since 1967, Chief Minister of Punjab has been predominantly from Jat Sikh community despite its 21 percent state population.^[3][4][5] Exceptions are Giani Zail Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab from 17 March 1972 to 30 April 1977 belonging to Ramgarhia community^[6][7] that has population of 6 percent and is a part of significant OBC community having population of 31.3 percent in the state and Charanjit Singh Channi who held the position for 111 days from 20 September 2021 to 16 March 2022 and was from Scheduled Caste(Dalit) who have 32 percent population in the state.^[8][9] Other prominent party is Bahujan Samaj Party especially in Doaba region^{[10][11][12][13]} founded by Kanshi Ram of Rupnagar district.^[14] In 1992 BSP won 9 seats Vidhan Sabha elections.^[15] Also BSP won 3 lok sabha seats from Punjab in 1996 general elections^{[16] [17]} and only Garhshanker seat in 1997 Vidhan Sabha elections.^[18] Communist parties too have some influence in the Malwa area.^[19] In the 2014 general elections, the first-time contesting Aam Aadmi Party got 4 out of 13 seats in Punjab by winning 34 of the total 117 assembly segments, coming second in 7, third in 73 and fourth in the rest 3 segments.^[20] The support for the Aam Aadmi Party increased later in Punjab.^[21][22] The current Government was elected in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections and the AAP won 92 out of 117 Assembly seats with Bhagwant Mann as the Chief Minister. The Congress flows down to get only 18 seats.