25 farm unions decide to contest Punjab elections; formal announcement likely today

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24

Twenty-five farm unions which participated in the agitation against Centre’s three farm laws have reportedly decided to contest the Assembly elections in Punjab. These unions are likely to stitch an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Seven unions that were part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) have decided to keep away from electoral politics.These are the Kirti Kisan Union, Krantikari Kisan Union, BKU-Krantikari, Doaba Sangharsh Committee, BKU-Sidhupur, Kisan Sangharsh Committee and Jai Kisan Andolan.

At a meeting in Mullanpur near Ludhiana on Friday, these seven unions reportedly asked the other unions not to use the SKM banner for electioneering. The BKU-Ugrahan, the largest farmer union in Punjab, has already announced it would not contest the polls.

The senior vice-president of the Kirti Kisan Union, Rajinder Singh Deepsinghwala, told The Tribune that they would be holding a meeting on December 31 and based on the feedback of members decide whether or not to contest the elections. There has been talk of union leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal and Harmeet Singh Kadian contesting on AAP ticket.

Punjab CM’s offer to raise a memorial to martyred farmers and auditing of SKM funds were also discussed at the meeting today.