How poll win of Khalistan sympathisers in Punjab is both a message and warning

The growing political presence of extremist elements in Punjab has left the mainstream parties and security agencies worried. Even though only two of the 12 Khalistan sympathisers who contested the Lok Sabha elections won people's trust, the victory could synergise the separatist groups to some extent.

The 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh won from Khadoor Sahib by a margin of 1,97,120 votes, which is the highest in the state, and the massive victory earned him attention again. On the other hand, Sarabjit Singh won from Faridkot by 70,053 votes.

The hardliners who gathered in Amritsar on the eve of the 40th anniversary of 'Operation Blue Star' on Thursday were seen waiving Amritpal's photos while raising pro-Khalistan slogans.

The impact of their victory will not be limited to the two Lok Sabha constituencies. This could create disquiet in the state that paid a heavy price to restore peace after a decades-long insurgency.

The hardliners will also contest the five Assembly bypolls in the days to come.

Interestingly, while Amritpal and Sarabjit Singh Khalsa were able to win the elections, another Khalistan propagandist Simranjit Singh Mann, was defeated by AAP nominee Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer by a margin of 1.73 lakh votes.

While Simranjit has already joined hands with Amritpal by withdrawing one of his candidates from the Khadoor Sahib seat, designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who claimed to have funded Amritpal’s campaign, has recently issued threats to attack Parliament.

The nine other hardliners who were given tickets by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) lost their security deposits. Their vote share is between 1.95 per cent and 7.36 per cent which means only a few could taste victory out of the dozen contesting.

The Lok Sabha elections in Punjab seem to have underscored the growing footprint of hardliners. Amritpal won the election despite being in jail and with the support of locals, apart from the alleged funding from abroad.

Lodged in a jail in Assam's Dibrugarh under the National Security Act, Amritpal would often say that his fight was with the Government of India and not with any community. His controversial statements were openly played by his supporters during the Lok Sabha campaign, which was allegedly funded by the banned terrorist organisation ‘Sikhs For Justice’.

Amritpal's controversial poll manifesto, which went viral on social media, pledged to shut all barber shops and beauty parlours apart from closing meat, liquor and tobacco shops. It also said the deras, sects like Radha Swami Satsang, Nirankari Mission, churches and mosques also would not be allowed to function.

It promised to train Sikh youths in the latest weapons. Amritpal's father Tarsem Singh has, however, denied Amritpal issued such a manifesto.

Amritpal's family had said that they won't celebrate his victory till June 6. Amritpal’s mother said his success in the Lok Sabha elections has been dedicated to the slain Khalistan terrorists.

Why Amritpal and Sarabjit Singh Khalsa won elections

Amritpal Singh was able to win the election on the basis of a narrative created by his supporters that he was 'promoting Sikhism and the Sikh identity' besides helping people get rid of drugs. His supporters believed booking him under NSA was wrong. Psephologist also said had he been booked under IPC he would have got bail and that would not allow him to generate the sympathy factor which led to his victory.

Late PM Indira Gandhi's assassin's son Sarabjit Singh Khalsa also won the polls in the Faridkot election on the issues of the release of former Khalistan terrorists and the sacrilege cases, besides the Behbal Kalan firing case.

Interestingly, Simranjit Singh Mann was also able to win the 2022 bypoll only by encashing on the wave against the Bhagwant government after Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was killed. But he was rejected by the voters this time.

It is clear that the hardliners, who won elections in Khadoor Sahib and Faridkot, were successful in wooing the voters on issues of the growing narcotics trade, drug addiction, and unsolved sacrilege cases, besides the false narrative that Sikhism was in danger.

The victory of the hardliners, on the one hand, proved their growing footprints while, on the other hand, has exposed their double standards.

The hardliners who won elections in 2024 also said they had no faith in the Indian Constitution and will now have to swear that they will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution.

All eyes are now on Amritpal and whether he will be released from jail to take an oath, as there is no provision to administer an oath in jail.