Politics of Punjab, India


Politics in reorganised present-day Punjab is dominated by mainly two parties. One is Shiromani Akali Dal and the other is Indian National Congress. Since 1967, Chief Minister of Punjab has been predominantly from Jat Sikh community despite its 21 percent state population. Only exception was Giani Zail Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab from 17 March 1972 to 30 April 1977 belonging to Other Backward Class community that has population of 31.3 percent. However Scheduled Castes community never had Chief Minister from community or proper representation in Government, despite having 32 percent population in the state. Other prominent party is Bahujan Samaj Party especially in Doaba region. In 1992 BSP won 9 seats Vidhan Sabha elections. Also BSP won 3 lok sabha seats from Punjab in 1996 general elections
and only Garhshanker seat in 1997 Vidhan Sabha elections. Communist parties too have some influence in the Malwa area. 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. The support for the Aam Aadmi Party increased later in Punjab. The current Government was elected in the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections and the Congress won 77 out of 117 Assembly seats with Captain Amarinder Singh as the current Chief Minister. The AAP, fighting its first assembly election in the state, won 20 seats. The incumbent BJP-SAD alliance came third with 18 seats.

History

Pre-1947 period

Before 1947 partition of Punjab, politics were dominated by Unionist Party as it was main party in united Punjab especially seen in 1937 elections.

1947–1966

During 1947-1966 Punjab was undivided and consisted of present-day Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
and Chandigarh. This meant that both population and religion factor of whole state was mixed and politics were dominated by Indian National Congress.

Political parties

Punjab has many :Category:Political parties in Punjab, India|political parties but only eight parties recognized by Election Commission of India and having presence in the state:
Following is the list of Parliamentary constituencies and Assembly constituencies of Punjab:-
PC No.Parliamentary ConstituencyAC No.Assembly Constituency
1Gurdaspur--
1Gurdaspur1Sujanpur
1Gurdaspur2Bhoa
1Gurdaspur3Pathankot
1Gurdaspur4Gurdaspur
1Gurdaspur5Dina Nagar
1Gurdaspur6Qadian
1Gurdaspur7Batala
1Gurdaspur9Fatehgarh Churian
1Gurdaspur10Dera Baba Nanak
2Amritsar11Ajnala
2Amritsar12Raja Sansi
2Amritsar13Majitha
2Amritsar15Amritsar North
2Amritsar16Amritsar West
2Amritsar17Amritsar Central
2Amritsar18Amritsar East
2Amritsar19Amritsar South
2Amritsar20Attari
3Khadoor Sahib14Jandiala
3Khadoor Sahib21Tarn Taran
3Khadoor Sahib22Khem Karan
3Khadoor Sahib23Patti
3Khadoor Sahib24Khadoor Sahib
3Khadoor Sahib25Baba Bakala
3Khadoor Sahib27Kapurthala
3Khadoor Sahib28Sultanpur Lodhi
3Khadoor Sahib75Zira
4Jalandhar30Phillaur
4Jalandhar31Nakodar
4Jalandhar32Shahkot
4Jalandhar33Kartarpur
4Jalandhar34Jalandhar West
4Jalandhar35Jalandhar Central
4Jalandhar36Jalandhar North
4Jalandhar37Jalandhar Cantt.
4Jalandhar38Adampur
5Hoshiarpur8Sri Hargobindpur
5Hoshiarpur26Bholath
5Hoshiarpur29Phagwara
5Hoshiarpur39Mukerian
5Hoshiarpur40Dasuya
5Hoshiarpur41Urmar
5Hoshiarpur42Sham Chaurasi
5Hoshiarpur43Hoshiarpur
5Hoshiarpur44Chabbewal
6Anandpur Sahib45Garhshankar
6Anandpur Sahib46Banga
6Anandpur Sahib47Nawanshahr
6Anandpur Sahib48Balachaur
6Anandpur Sahib49Anandpur Sahib
6Anandpur Sahib50Rupnagar
6Anandpur Sahib51Chamkaur Sahib
6Anandpur Sahib52Kharar
6Anandpur Sahib53S.A.S. Nagar
7Ludhiana60Ludhiana East
7Ludhiana61Ludhiana South
7Ludhiana62Atam Nagar
7Ludhiana63Ludhiana Central
7Ludhiana64Ludhiana West
7Ludhiana65Ludhiana North
7Ludhiana66Gill
7Ludhiana68Dakha
7Ludhiana70Jagraon
8Fatehgarh Sahib54Bassi Pathana
8Fatehgarh Sahib55Fatehgarh Sahib
8Fatehgarh Sahib56Amloh
8Fatehgarh Sahib57Khanna
8Fatehgarh Sahib58Samrala
8Fatehgarh Sahib59Sahnewal
8Fatehgarh Sahib67Payal
8Fatehgarh Sahib69Raikot
8Fatehgarh Sahib106Amargarh
9Faridkot71Nihal Singhwala
9Faridkot72Bhagha Purana
9Faridkot73Moga
9Faridkot74Dharamkot
9Faridkot84Gidderbaha
9Faridkot87Faridkot
9Faridkot88Kotkapura
9Faridkot89Jaitu
9Faridkot90Rampura Phul
10Ferozepur76Firozpur City
10Ferozepur77Firozpur Rural
10Ferozepur78Guru Har Sahai
10Ferozepur79Jalalabad
10Ferozepur80Fazilka
10Ferozepur81Abohar
10Ferozepur82Balluana
10Ferozepur85Malout
10Ferozepur86Muktsar
11Bathinda83Lambi
11Bathinda91Bhucho Mandi
11Bathinda92Bathinda Urban
11Bathinda93Bathinda Rural
11Bathinda94Talwandi Sabo
11Bathinda95Maur
11Bathinda96Mansa
11Bathinda97Sardulgarh
11Bathinda98Budhlada
12Sangrur99Lehra
12Sangrur100Dirba
12Sangrur101Sunam
12Sangrur102Bhadaur
12Sangrur103Barnala
12Sangrur104Mehal Kalan
12Sangrur105Malerkotla
12Sangrur107Dhuri
12Sangrur108Sangrur
13Patiala109Nabha
13Patiala110Patiala Rural
13Patiala111Rajpura
13Patiala112Dera Bassi
13Patiala113Ghanaur
13Patiala114Sanour
13Patiala115Patiala
13Patiala116Samana
13Patiala117Shutrana