Panjab Elections: AAP Faces Ire over Pension Scheme and Caste Remarks

Like farmers protesting against the BJP in the state, now government employees are protesting against AAP over unfulfilled promises. Around two hundred thousand government employees across Panjab have started pasting posters or flex boards outside their residences asking AAP candidates to declare their stand on the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). AAP had notified the implementation of OPS on 18 November 2022, but it remained on paper. On 13 Apr, Panjab’s chief electoral officer Sibin C sent the Election Commission of India his report on two complaints against state minister Laljit Singh Bhullar — AAP’s candidate from Khadoor Sahib — that he made casteist remarks against certain communities while campaigning at Patti. SAD and INC protested and CM Bhagwant Mann had to apologize. On 2 May, disgruntled INC leader Dalvir Singh Goldy joined AAP and will be their candidate from Sangrur. While INC declared its remaining seats on 7 May, the day nominations start, BJP has still not declared four seats in the state. Even in the seats they have declared, they have taken their urban Hindu voter for granted by not offering Hindu candidates in any of the major seats. Controversy erupted when the wife of state INC chief Amrita Warring likened the INC symbol to Guru Nanak’s hand as portrayed in most images. Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar (head) of Takht Damdama Sahib reprimanded Warring. Meanwhile, Jeevan Singh Malla who was earlier Jeevan Kumar Malla from Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu is contesting elections from the Hoshiarpur reserved seat. He embraced the Sikh religion in January 2023. (SDW Vol 2, Issue 15, Story 2).