SKM 25 farmers’ unions to contest Punjab elections, likely to ally with AAP

The farmer organizations that have decided to stay away from politics are Kirti Kisan Union, Krantikari Kisan Union, BKU Krantikari, Doaba Sangharsh Committee, BKU Sidhupur, Kisan Sangharsh Committee and Jai Kisan Andolan

The 25 unions running in the by-elections will hold another meeting on December 25, and the decision will be officially announced. 

According to reports, twenty-five of the 32 farmers’ unions that took part in the farmers’ strike as part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has decided to run in the Punjab elections. Farmers’ unions may form alliances with Aam Aadmi Party. Farmers’ associations joining politics are expected to make an official announcement on Saturday 

 However, seven Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) unions have decided to distance themselves from Punjab politics. It is reported that associations such as Kirti Kisan Union, Krantikari Kisan Union, BKU Krantikari, Doaba Sangharsh Committee, BKU Sidhupur, Kisan Sangharsh Committee and Jai Kisan Andolan will not participate in Punjab politics.

At the same time, the remaining 25 unions of SKM will compete. The largest farmers’ association in Punjab, BKU Ugrahan, although not part of SKM has said it will not run in the upcoming regional assembly elections. 

Kisan Sangharsh Committee President Inderjit Singh Kot Buddha has indicated that his unions will not run in the by-elections to focus on critical issues affecting farmers. he said,

“I told other leaders that politics could be our weakness, so we would not want to be part of a political party,”

 Inderjit Singh Kot Buddha has also stated that he will not run in the by-elections. 

The decision of the farmers’ unions to enter politics was taken at a Kisan Union meeting in Mullanpur near Ludhiana on Friday. In political campaigns, seven non-voting unions have called for the SKM flag as all SKM members are not involved in politics. 

The 25 unions running in the by-elections will hold another meeting on December 25, and the decision will be officially announced. 

Among the unions joining politics, at least 13 blocks are set to form a coalition with the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the convention elections. 

“The AAP, which is in charge of Delhi, has helped the farmers’ struggle at the Delhi border, which is the basis for a” new love between farmers’ leaders and the party, “a leader present at the meeting told the Tribune. 

Reliable sources also said about ten unions affiliated with the AAP. The recent turmoil between farmers and AAP leaders over support for these during the riots is a reason to show favouritism in the party. Farmer leaders say the AAP has not yet been given a chance to govern.  

There have been speculations of union leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal and Harmeet Singh Kadian opposing voting for AAP tickets and who was once nominated as the CM’s face. Both, however, denied the allegations.  

In July this year, farmers’ leaders announced that farmers’ unions would run in Punjab.