THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 4, 1962

Studies in Voting Behaviour III Religion and Caste in the : Constituency Baldev Raj Nayar One approach by Congress candidates in their election campaigning in the Punjab was based on what may be called the "theory of factions". According in this theory every village, more particularly the Jat section of every village, is divided into two factions and these factions govern the entire life oj the village. During the election it was expected that these factions would align themselves with different political parties -in the typical case, one supporting the Congress and the other the Akati Dal. But, if the result of the election in the Sidhwan Bet constituency is any guide, the! theory of factions did not hold during the general elections. It was also expected that scheduled castes and Would invariably vote for the Congress when the choice was between an Akali Dal Sikh and a Congress Sikh. Here again, the result of the election failed to show any correlation between the per cent of scheduled castes in the population of a polling station and the votes secured by the Congress candidate. A corollary of the proposition that scheduled castes lend to vote for the Congress is that Jat are unitedly behind the A kali Dal. In the Sidhwan Bet constituency, however, the Congress candidate did cut into the Jat Sikh vote. Affinal and agnatic ties, the traditional political, affiliations of particular villages, the presence of bitter factions — all influenced the Jat Sikh vote.

THE reserved Assembly constitu­ lative Assembly of the Punjab. family he joined government service ency of Sidhwan Bet lies in the However, for all intents and pur­ as a clerk. He left the job in 1952 District of the Punjab; poses, the main contest was bet­ to support the S C F candidates the major part of it is in ween Ajit Kumar (Akali Dal) and during the first general elections. thana of tehsil. The Gopal Singh Khalsa (Congress). Later he joined the Central Tractor Ludhiana-Ferozepore road divides Ajit Kumar was the general secre­ Organization in Bhopal as an ac­ the constituency into two parts — tary of the Punjab State Republi­ counts clerk. While in service he one known as Sidhwan Bet side can Party and, though not a Sikh passed his intermediate examination and the other as side. The himself, was running on the Akali in 1948 and afterwards joined the constituency derives its name from Dal ticket, and under the symbol railways as a ticket collector first the village Sidhwan Bet which was of the Hand allotted to that party, in Jodhpur and then in Hissar. founded by the caste of , through an electoral alliance bet­ During his service in the railways the Bet referring to the fact that ween the two parties. He was he took active interest in the wel­ it is in the river area of the Sut- born in 1928 in a scheduled caste fare of the scheduled castes and in lej. There are no towns in the home in Ludhiana City, though his railway labour unions. Finally, in constituency though a large market ancestral village is which is a 1957 he quit railway service and centre called Mullanpur serves the part of the constituency. Because contested the reserved seat from area. The main crops are wheat, of prejudice in -Hindu and Sikh Raikot double member constituency, sugarcane, maize and groundnuts. schools at the time, he received his and secured 30,011 votes as against All the villages in the constituency primary education in a Muslim the Congress candidate with are now covered by the community school in Ludhiana. However, when 39,466 votes, who was then support­ development program. There are Muslims started converting sche­ ed by the Akalis. Since then Ajit some historic Sikh gurudwaras duled castes to Islam. Hindus — Kumar has been in active politics. (temples) in the constituency—places especially those belonging to the which had been visited by the Sikh Arya Samaj — began taking in­ In 1959 he went on an eight Gurus — a fact of considerable terest in the education of the sche­ days hunger strike in the food importance in the political loyalties duled castes, and Ajit Kumar join­ agitation. Later, during the anti- of the area. ed an Arya Samaj school. The betterment levy agitation an treatment he received at the hands agitation against the increase in The Candidates and Their of Hindu teachers and students was land taxes imposed on the plea that Background not exactly a happy one. and even- government projects had increased There were five candidates tually he passed his high school agricultural yields, a sort of pros­ Ajit Kumar (Akali Dal), Gopal examination in 1945 as a private perity tax — he was arrested in Singh Khalsa (Congress), Bachan student after leaving the school. 1959 and sent to Amritsar jail for Singh (Independent), Bir Singh Ambedkar and his All- Sche­ 40 days. During the Punjabi Suba (Swatantra), and Lal Singh (In­ duled Castes Federation (SCF) had agitation he was arrested for his dependent) —- running in the 1962 by this time stimulated in him an part in the agitation for the protec­ general elections from this consti­ interest in politics, but due to the tion of civil liberties, going on at tuency for the 154-member Legis­ economic circumstances of the the same time, and served 37 days 1267 August 4, 1962 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

in jail. Though he himself went Tara Singh and his Akali Dal in borrowing entertainers and workers to jail on the issue of civil liberties the 1959 elections to the S G P C from this department, and though the Republican Party ("Shromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Gurudwara-Based Campaign itself is neutral on the issue of the Committee") — the central orga­ In the gwrudwaras, when the formation of the Punjabi Suba, nization responsible for the manage­ people assembled for daily prayers Ajit Kumar could satisfy the Akuli- ment of gurudwaras in the Pun­ or on special occasions, the priest oriented voters in (he constituency jab — though the Malwa Akali or the manager of the gurudwara that he had made sacrifices by go­ Dal as well as other organisations or a prominent personality of the ing to jail during the Punjabi Suba running against Master Tara Singh area, appealed to them in the name agitation in 1961, met with disastrous defeat in these of the Sikh religion to vote for the Gopal Singh Khalsa. the Congress gurudwara elections. Akali candidate Ajit Kumar. One candidate, was born in a scheduled Campaigning and Canvassing of the points which the Congress caste Ramdasia Sikh family in The Akali Dal Candidate Party tried to exploit was that Ajit 1903, in a village which is outside Ajit Kumar proved an able orga­ Kumar was not a Sikh. But in the the Sidhwan Bet constituency but nizer of his election campaign. He gurudwaras and outside, Akali not too far from it. After studying started his campaigning in the se­ workers explained that what they at the Malwa Khalsa High School cond week of January 1962 with wanted was to elect a member to in Ludhiana, Khalsa went to the a definite programme to visit the the Assembly, and not a priest to United States in 1923 and spent 170 or so villages at least once and the gurudwara. It was also pointed three years at the University o' twice if possible. He established out that since the Sikhs were ac­ Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, and later offices at strategic places manned by cused of being communal, they in a college at Stockton, California. workers with the members of his should elect Ajit Kumar to vindi­ However, he did not graduate but family playing an active role. His cate their position and prove that joined the Hindustan National main strategy was based on the they were not communal-minded. Party and finally returned to India caste composition of the constitu­ But as far as the Jat Sikhs were in 1931. After his return to India, ency. For the scheduled caste concerned the appeal was made he took keen interest in the welfare votes, he approached the scheduled frankly and openly in the name of of the scheduled castes and joined caste panchayats. On his behalf, religion. With war cries of Sat the All India Scheduled Castes about five to ten members from Sri Akal, Akali workers asked the Federation of Dr B R Ambedkar. some 30 such panchayats went to voters to vote for the Sikh Panth. He was a member of the S C F various villages on foot canvassing In the speeches, given in the Working Committee and a close for votes. In addition there were gurudwarars, the sacrifices of the associate of Dr Ambedkar from four groups of workers on bicycles. Sikhs were recounted, especially of 1937 to 1946. In 1937 he ran as Two station wagons were also used Guru Gobind Singh and his sons, an independent for the Punjab to carry workers to villages. and the latter-day sacrifices in the Legislative Assembly and was elect- cause of the Punjabi Suba; it was As far as the Jat Sikh vote was ed. He was then appointed Parlia­ emphasized that now it was merely mentary Secretary to the Punjab concerned, the campaigning was a question of casting the ballot Premier Sir Sikander Hyat Khan. left to Akali workers, and the whereas in the past the Sikhs had From 1937 to 1946 he was also a gurudwaras were the main centres to fane bullets. If the Sikhs wanted nominated member of the District of campaigning. All the gurud­ to achieve the Punjabi Suba, they Board of Ludhiana, After the war, waras in the constituency were should vote for Ajit Kumar, be­ in 1946, he was appointed as an under the control of the Akali Dal. cause if Akali candidates were re­ officer in the Labour Department The managers of these gurud­ turned in large enough numbers of the government of India. In waras were active sympathisers and they could just, vote for the Pun­ 1952 he joined the Akali Dal, ran canvassers for the Akali candidate. jabi Suba in the Assembly. In this on its ticket for the Punjab Legis­ The Akali candidate and workers, connection Ajit Kumar's jail sen­ lative Assembly, was elected with when they entered a village, invari­ tences during the agitation days 28,179 votes as against the Congress ably headed for the gurudwara for were recalled. Professional singers candidate's 15,067 and the S C F canvassing, speech making and for of martial music created an emoti­ candidate's 8,993 votes. He then refreshments. On the other hand, onally receptive atmosphere for the became the Leader of the Opposi­ the Congress candidate did not, or pronouncements of the Akali tion in the Punjab Assembly. He rather could not. go to the gurud­ workers. had during his political career waras for electioneering. This was edited a couple of magazines and an avenue closed to the Congress Two important personalities in papers, and from 1952 to 1954 was candidate - though one active Akali politics also campaigned Chief Editor of the Daily Prabhat, Congress worker remarked, as his briefly for Ajit Kumar in his con­ the Urdu spokesman of the Akali station wagon slopped in front of stituency —- Sant Fateh Singh and Dal. In 1956 as a result of the the Public Relations Office of the the Akali Dal Propaganda Secre­ merger of the Akali Dal with the Punjab Government in Ludhiana, tary Kehar Singh Vairagi. In his Congress party, he joined the latter "You see. we use the Public Relations campaigning, Ajit Kumar received organization but was unable to get Department as much as the Akalis use full cooperation from the Akali the Congress ticket for the assemb­ the gurudwaras. This is our eauival- workers who sincerely worked for ly in 1957. He played a prominent ent of the Akali gurudumras" Use him. While in the initial stage oart in the organization of the of the Public Relations Department there was some grumbling because Malwa Akali Dal to oppose Master by the Congress took the form of the Akali Dal had not pu| up a 1268 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 4, 1962 party member as a candidate, proved a handicap because Khalsa faction in the Congress party in there was no question of anybody had in 1952 run in a double-mem­ the area left the party and helped trying to sabotage his election ber constituency where the mem­ the Akalis. The leader of this fac­ when, as it was explained, "once ber running for the general seat tion. Joginder Singh, had been an the Panth has made the decision." had done most of the organizational honorary magistrate and an import­ One must note here the identifica­ work, and the candidate running ant government official, and com­ tion of the Akali Dal with the for the reserved scat merely tagged manded considerable respect and Sikh Panth. The Akali party work­ along. Congress workers themsel­ influence among the Jats. His go­ ers were no financial burden on ves were very critical of Khalsa ing over to the Akalis was a great Ajit Kumar as they came either for his lack of organization. For blow to the Congress candidate. In from gurudwaras or were paid by (me thing he started late in the the Block Samiti elections, his son the party: their food and trans- election campaign, almost a month had been opposed by the other portal ion was taken care of by the after Ajit Kumar. Some of the major faction in the Congress in Akali Dal either on its own or Congress workers were critical of the area and because he feared through the gurudumrus. his practice of returning to Ludhi- that attempts were being made to The Akali Dal campaign was ana City in the evening which was undermine his influence in the Con­ reinforced by posters from the precisely the time to meet the gress he went over to the Akalis. Akali Dal office in Amrilsar. These voters who were in the fit-Ids This defection to the Akali Dal was included : (1) an appeal from during the daytime. They also influential in swinging the Jat Sikh Master Tara Singh and Sant Patch criticised him for choosing Khu- votes to Ajit Kumar in 14 of the Singh to vote for Ajit Kumar; (2) shkismet Singh. vice-president of 70 polling stations. In addition to several pictures of maimed or dead the District Congress Committee of this major breakaway from the persons in an attempt to depict the Ludhiana, as his election aide Congress party, there was much fac­ atrocities committed by the party since Khushkismet Singh was not tionalism within the party. liked by certain sections of Congress in power; (3) a picture of the op­ Approach through Panchayats voters in the villages. These Con­ ponent of Punjab Chief Minister Khalsa's main strategy, as of gressmen said that Khushkismet Pratap Singh Kairon in Sarhali most Congress candidates, was to Singh was openly working for constituency, shown contesting; his approach panches, sarpanches and his close relative, Shamsher Singh election from behind prison bars; landlords, and take them along for Dhandari, who was running on the (4) a poster criticising the Con­ campaigning among other voters. It Akali Dal ticket from the adjoining gress government's cultural pro­ must be said that other political Ludhiana South constituency. Con­ grammes, showing half-dressed parties also approach panches and gress leaders and workers in the dancing girls and drunken men; sarpanches depending on whether area were generally disappointed (4) a poster showing the Congress they have their party men on the at Khalsa's selection of people to government as a demon-goddess, panchayats. A little more than 50 accompany him during his camp­ crushing people and civil liberties: per cent of the panchayats in the aign in the villages. He had cho­ (5) finally, a poster entitled "old constituency are controlled by the sen people who were anathema to souls, new lives" showing Nehru Congress party, about 3() per cent many Congress-men. Moreover he with Aurangzeb in the background, by the Akalis and the rest by the had with him workers from the Communist party and the Hepublic­ and Pratap Singh Kairon with caste most of the time, Nawab of Sirhind in the back- with the result that he was unable an party. These are rough figures, ground Aurangzeb and Nawab to gain an effective entry into the because, for one thing, the pawha- of Sirhind are the two most hated Jat sections. At times he was vat elections are supposed to be characters in Sikh history. In addi­ even stoned and prevented from fought on a non-party basis and no tion there was an appeal from the entering villages. records are kept as to which party son of Dr B K Ambedkar to vote controls a particular panchayat. and. for Ajit Kumar. emphasizing One of the reasons for Khalsa s secondly, at the time panchayat for the benefit of the scheduled lack of attention to organization, elections took place the Akalis had caste vote that Ajit Kumar was was his over-confidence at the be­ not completely separated themselves a candidate of the Republican ginning, stemming from the feeling from the Congress party. The Akali Party. that Ajit Kumar was "only a lad" panchayats today have broken away The Congress Candidate in politics, a non-Sikh running in from the Congress Party after the The Congress candidate's cam­ a predominantly Sikh constituency panchayat elections. Similarly, the paign was, in contrast, highly dis­ against a Sikh candidate of the Block Samiti was under the control organized. Khalsa himself is a Congress party. Moreover. the of the Congress party, but its chair­ Republican Party was not influen­ witty speaker, and could pour scorn man went over to the Akali Dal on tial among the scheduled castes in and ridicule on the Akali Dal. its the eve of the general elections and the , and Khalsa leader Master Tara Singh and the won a seat to the legislate assemb­ was well-known in the territory be­ opposing candidate. But, in con­ ly on the Akali ticket from an ad­ cause of his long history of parti- trast to earlier elections, voters joining constituency. Initiallly domi­ eipation in politics. now - wanted the candidate to nated by the Congress, about 50 per visit them individually at their Another of the factors responsi­ cent of its members are Akali now. houses. Large meetings no longer ble for the mismanagement; of some. 12 per cent are Republicans interested them. Besides, public Khaisa's campaign was a rift in and Communists and the rest are meetings needed Organisation. This the Congress ranks. An important Congressmen. The Zila Parishad 269 August 4, 1962 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

1270 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 4, 1962 has a Congressman for its chairman, given in Table 1. The Akali-Dal- village or group of villages are hut some 40 per cent of the mem- supported candidate won easily. split into two or more polling sta­ hers are Akalis. Except for a very This seat had been won by an Akali tions). The analysis here will be small number of cases such as candidate in 1952 (by Khalsa, who based on the voting statistics for (polling station number 1) was now running on the Congress polling stations; one polling station and (2) and some villa­ ticket), a Congress-Akali candidate covers approximately a thousand ges in the Sidhwan Bel area — the in 1957, and now in 1962 it had voters. gone to an Akali-supported but non- panchayats, as far as the Congress Theory of Factions was concerned, were unable to exert Sikh candidate. This testifies to the any special influence on the voters. ability of the Akali Dal to swing One approach by Congress candi­ the vote to any candidate of its dates in their election campaigning Khalsa's main point of attack choice in this Sikh majority consti­ is based on what may he called was that Ajit Kumar was not a Sikh tuency. 'The Theory of Factions." Accord­ and that he was a chain-smoker, ing to this theory, every village, which he indeed is (in Sikh reli­ II more particularly the Jat section of gion smoking is taboo). To the Jat Analysis of Voting Behaviour every village, is divided into two Sikhs, A jit Kumar was presented by factions, resulting from a variety of About 30 per cent of the popula­ the Congress workers as an advocate factors in village life. These factions, tion of the Sidhwan Bet constituen­ of nationalization of land and of it is said, govern the whole life of cy belong to the scheduled castes, industries, as belonging to a party the village. At the time of the gene­ the non-scheduled caste population whose founder. B R Ambedkar, was ral elections, these factions align consisting primarily of Jat Sikhs, responsible for the Hindu Succes­ themselves with different political with a sprinkling of caste Hindus sion Act (which the jats opposed) parties, characteristically one align­ and some other backward classes. and as an anti-Jal. To the scheduled ing itself to the Congress party and The Hindus are mostly shopkeepers casles, A jit Kumar was presented the other to the Akali Dal. In other and small-scale businessmen. Data as having crossed over to the Aka­ words, the voter's loyalty is not to on the population of Hindus and lis and having favoured the forma­ any political party, or to a politi­ backward classes in the villages is tion of the Punjabi Suba in which cal appeal, or to a particular candi­ not available, but on the basis of scheduled cash's would find it hard date, but to the local faction whose interview's some estimate of these to live in the villages. The Congress leaders can swing the vote to any will be given where possible and party, on the other hand, was pre­ party. These factions may switch necessary. The Jat Sikhs are the sell led as the protector of the sche­ their loyalties at the last minute; cultivator-farmers who own their duled castes. It is an irony of poli­ if one changes one way, its oppo­ land. The scheduled castes are land, tics how roles can be reversed from nent will go the other way. In other less agricultural labourers. They election to election. In the 1952 words, the main determinant of the also engage in leather and scaveng­ elections, A jit Kumar then cam­ voter's choice is loyalty to the local ing work. While no figures are paigning for the SCF candidate faction rather than to a political available, in the Dakha part of the against Khalsa, warned the scheduled party or candidate. To be sure, constituency, about 50 per cent of castes that the Akalis will "finish most villages are faction ridden. the scheduled caste population is them" if they came into power. Even where panchayat elections have etigaged in shoemaking, the other Now, in 1962, Khalsa running on taken place unanimously, factions 50 per cent in agriculture, half of the Congress party ticket was using are present, because unanimity in them being tenants and the other- exactly the same argument. Workers most cases emerged as a result of half agricultural labour. In the Sidh­ campaigning for Khalsa also drop­ candidates withdrawing after having wan Bet area, 75 per cent of them ped hints that Khalsa. because of been convinced of certain defeat — work as agricultural labourers, and his close connections with Chief not from an absence of contest. about 20 per cent work as labour­ Minister Kairon, would become a However, if the election results of ers engaged in digging wells, cons­ minister after the elections and that Sidhwan Bet constituency are any tructing roads or making mats and people should vote for him if they guide, the theory does not seem to baskets. About 5 per cent: or so are wanted to get their work done later. hold. It is significant that the Con­ small landowning cultivators ,. Except gress candidate could get more than The Election Results for this last category, in both Dak­ 51 per cent of the vote at only two ha and Sidhwan Bet sections, the The election for the Sidhwan Bet of the 70 polling stations in the landowners arc invariably Jat Sikhs. constituency, as for the rest of the constituency. At 25 polling stations Punjab, was held on February 24, Data on the population of sche­ he got less than 25 per cent of the 1962. The results of the election are duled castes in the various villages vote. Except for 12 polling stations. Table 1 : Election Results for Sidh­ was obtained from the Office of the his vote at every other polling sta­ wan Bet Constituency in 1962 Superintendent of Census Operations tion was less than 41 per cent. On (Punjab) in Chandigarh. However, the other hand, except for II pol­ Candidate Party Votes ling stations, the Akali-Dal-Republi- Polled it was difficult to locate all the vil­ lages which form part of the poll­ can candidate got more than 51 Ajit Kumar Akali Dal 23,567 per cent of the vote at every one Gopal Singh ing stations in the constituency, but Khalsa Congress 11,763 data is available for a total of 58 of the 70 polling stations. Table 2 Bachan Singh Independent 473 polling stations — either by indi­ sets out in detail the vote percent­ Bir Singh Swatantra 481 vidual polling stations or a combina­ ages of the candidate by polling Lal Singh Independent 783 tion of polling stations (in case a stations. 1271 August 4, 1962 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 4, 1962

It is true that a palling station ency is an exception, but a look at scheduled castes, convinced as they may include more than one village the polling station figures does not are that they would inevitably vote and the results would thus be dis­ show any consistent correlation be­ for the Congress candidate). More torted, but the election figures for tween the percentage of scheduled Tabled: Vote Percentages of Con­ those single villages for which data caste persons in the total population gress and Akali Candidates in Sidh­ are available, indicate the same of a polling station and the voting trend, as will be seen from Table 3. percentage of the Congress candi­ wan Bet Constituency If the theory of factions had been date (See Table 5), true, it is odd that the Congress Percentage of Number of Polling Votes Polled Stations candidate gets the smaller faction To be sure, in this constituency Ajit Kumar Khalsa in the overwhelming majority of the sharpness of the contest between 10-20 13 the cases. Data from the Sidhwan the Congress party and the Akali Dal, as far as the scheduled castes 21-25 1 12 Bet constituency shows a majority 26-30 10 were concerned, was blunted by the for the Akali Dal candidate in most 81-35 7 villages. However, the theory is not fact that two scheduled caste candi­ 36-40 2 16 to be dismissed entirely for it does dates opposed each other with a 41-45 2 6 contain some truth in regard to resultant division of the scheduled 46-50 6 4 those villages where factionalism is caste vote. It may be that the sche- 51-55 5 bitter, or the prestige of the leaders duled caste population does vote for 56-60 12 2 of the factions is at stake in the a Congress candidate but only 61-65 9 election. In these villages, each fac­ where the choice is between a -fat 66-70 8 tion, whether large or small, does Sikh of the Akali Dal and a Jat 71-75 18 76-80 5 align itself with opposing political Sikh of the Congress party (in such 81-85 1 — constituencies, the Akali Dal candi­ parties. On the basis of information 86-90 1 — available from interviews, factional­ dates do not even approach the ism in the village was influential in the following polling stations or villages mentioned in Table 4 (these examples are illustrative and not exclusive). Scheduled Caste Vote An essential supplement to the so-called "theory of factions'1 is that scheduled castes — at least in the Malwa area of which Ludhiana District is a part - and the Hindus invariably vote for the Congress, when the choice is between an Akali Sikh and a Congress Sikh. The Hindus vote for the Congress be­ cause the Akali Dal is professedly a single community party standing for Sikh interests exclusively. The scheduled castes are sympathetic to the Congress, it is said, because the Congress Government has abolished untouehability, has provided for the reservation of seats in legislatures and posts in Government offices for scheduled castes, and enacted vari­ ous measures for their welfare and advancement. Another reason is that the scheduled castes form the under, privileged sections of the village, and come into conflict with Jal Sikh landlords. The Jat Sikhs are behind the Akali Dal and its de­ mand for the Punjabi Suba. where­ at* the scheduled castes are against Punjabi Suba because of the politi­ cal power it will vest in the Jat Sikhs. Consequently, it is said, the scheduled castes overwhelmingly vote for the Congress party. It may well be that Sidhwan Bet constitu­ 1273 August 4, 1962 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

THE BIG HURRY IN THE WORLD OF SURGERY

1274 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 4, 1962

important, in this case, the non- ress has done for them. As one ance between the Akali Dal and Congress scheduled caste candidate Ramdasia Sikh villager belonging to the Republican Party which in turn though running on the Akali Dal the scheduled castes remarked, helped the joint Akali-Republican ticket in fact belonged to a distinct "Guru Gobind Singh made a condi­ candidate. Something may also be political party which, in spite of its tion of these symbols" — pointing to­ said for the loyalty of scheduled name — the Republican Party — re­ ward his beard — "before making caste voters to the leadership of presents exclusively the interests of us an equal of the other Sikhs. The the late B K Ambedkar, his party the scheduled castes. Moreover, he Congress, however, granted us equa­ — the SCF — and its successor, had worked in the constituency over lity unconditionally". At the same the Republican party. Khalsa who a period of four or five years and time there is a feeling that the had been elected in 1952 from this had been able to build an image of scheduled castes have got all they area had been a close associate of could get from the Congress, and Ambedkar, and Ajit Kumar who that they have now to adopt other won in 1962 is the general secretary means and organizations to further of the Punjab State Republican their ends. The element of fear Party. springs from the fact that the sche­ Hindus, Christians and Backward duled castes can be subjected to Classes reprisals — social, economic and political — if they go against the Hindus form an insignificant wishes of the local village leaders part of the population in this con­ who come from among the Jat stituency. But where there is a Sikhs. In the Sidhwan Bet section concentration of Hindus, this com­ of the constituency, many scheduled munity votes for the Congress in caste voters voted against the Akali the Punjab when the choice is bet­ candidate because, due to their own ween the Congress and the Akali weak and dependent economic posi­ Dal. This is obvious from two tion, they accepted the leadership of polling stations: (1) Sidhwan Bet, the Jat Sikh leaders, some of whom polling station number 21, where were against the Akali candidate the Congress candidate received for his part in fighting for the 50.3 per cent of the vote polled, and rights of the landless agricultural (2) Akalgarh, polling station num­ labour in the past in this area. One ber 61, (where Hindus constitute Sikh villager was asked as to the about 50 per cent of the population voting intention of his village: "We and Christians another 20 per cent) are going to vote for the man who where the Congress candidate re­ is in jail." "But that is in Amritsar ceived 60.2 per cent of the vote District, far from here." "Well, we polled. Data on the backward are going to vote for the Panth." classes is not available. These "How about the scheduled castes classes consist largely of carpenters, people?" "They too will vote with ironsmiths and barbers, and are us." "Why, won't they vote for the present in every village. While they Congress?" "No, we would stop their were converted to long ago, fodder," they are not completely accepted into the Sikh fold by the Jat Sikhs When the relations between the who consider them inferior Sikhs. Jats and the scheduled castes are On the other hand, they insistently bad, then the scheduled castes vote himself as a sincere and dedicated want to prove that they are as against the side with whom the Jat worker for the cause of the sche­ good Sikhs as any other, and the Sikhs are aligned — and since in duled castes. It may be noted that act of voting becomes a form of this area the Jat sections are, gene­ even in 1957, when running on his self-assurance and a public demon­ rally though not totally, inclined own party's ticket in the Raikot stration of being a complete Sikh. toward the Akali Dal — and since double member constituency, of They vigorously and demonstratively the contest is between the Akali Dal which the present constituency was supported Ajit Kumar because he and the Congress, the scheduled then a part, he was able to secure was a candidate of the Akali Dal castes would tend to vote for the 43.2 per cent of the vote as against and all staunch Sikhs were supposed Congress. In Sidhwan Bet constitu­ the Congress candidate's 56.8 per to be with that party. ency, however, in 1962 relations be­ cent, at a time when the Akalis tween the Jals and the scheduled Jat Sikh Vote were merged organizationally with caste sections were by and large According to some, a corollary the Congress party. good, partly perhaps because of the of the proposition that scheduled In fact, the vote of the scheduled realization on the part of Jat Sikh castes tend to vote for the Congress caste sections is full of subtleties, voters that since this was a reserved party is that the Jat Sikhs are compounded of gratitude, fear, and constituency they had to work unitedly behind the Akali Dal. A revolt. There is genuine gratitude through a scheduled caste member look at the voting returns for the on the part of many scheduled in the legislature, and partly per­ Congress candidate shown in Table caste persons for what the Cong­ haps because of the electoral alli­ 5 would indicate that at several 1275 August 4, 1962 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

places he secured a higher percent, candidate, An example of this is low, at Bhundri polling station (18) age of voles than the scheduled the village of where the they went up to 37.9 per cent be­ caste .percentage of the population. Akali Dal candidate received 75.6 cause that polling station includes, While part of this may he from per cent of the votes. This village the village of Lai Singh, one of the other categories of backward classes, was a prominent centre of the anti- other candidates. It was a combi­ the evidence ' suggests that the Con­ betterment levy agitation in 1959 nation of such factors that cut gress candidate did cut into the and witnessed a police firing in across ethnic and religious loyalties Jat Sikh vole, and that the Jal Sikhs which a couple of people were that enabled the Congress candidate did vole for the Congress party. killed, including a scheduled caste to cut into the Jat Sikh vote. Precisely what the bases of this woman, and several were injured. loyalty are it is hard to say. Oppo­ The Congress candidate, .because of Conclusion sition workers attribute it to the the resentment against the Govern, What can we say in conclusion grant of quotas, allocation of depots ment among the villagers of Aitiana. about the factors that made possible, and other favours shown by the was able to secure only 1.1,2 per the overwhelming victory of the ruling party. However, there is a cent of the vote. Akali-supported-Republican candi- variety of factors involved, working dale? It can be said that, consider­ not only in the case of the Congress Again, another factor is the pre­ ing the composition of the consti­ candidate hut also the other candi­ sence in certain villages of extre­ tuency since there is no large dates. One of the most striking mely hostile and bitter factions town having a large Hindu popula­ features of election campaigning by which divide the village in its vot­ tion and the scheduled caste popu­ all candidates in Ludhiana District ing; The voting here is an ex­ lation is only 30 per cent — .the is the extent to which affinal and pression of hostility against the candidate put up by the Akali Dal agnatic ties are used by candidates opposing faction rather than of would have won, not only because and their workers to put pressure political preference. Many Jat of the religious appeal the Akali on voters to vote for a particular Sikh votes go to (he Congress Party Dal makes to the Sikhs but also in candidate. These relatives help in this manner. Then, some vote its ability to marshall on its side irrespective of their own political for the Congress party because it anti-government sentiment. What inclinations. The whole system of embodies governmental power. As made possible the overwhelming relationships is reactivated during one villager said, "We voted for victory of Ajit Kumar was his own elections. Daughters-in-law, for the British Government when there work among the scheduled caste instance, visit their ancestral villages was a British Government; we vote population and his superior-organi­ to win support for a certain candi­ for the Congress Government when sation. date. Candidates depute special there is a Congress Government; if workers for approaching relatives. the Akalis ever form a Government Past political affiliations do not make we will vote for them too. We any difference, and helping relatives vote for the Government, whosoever 1 cuts across party-lines. A person it is - not the political party.' On may be helping two opposing parties the other hand, it should be noted in adjoining constituencies. While that the electorate voted over­ in this case the Congress candidate whelmingly against the Government was a member of the scheduled in the Sidhwan Bet constituency. As castes, there were always a consider­ a matter of fact, one could point able number of people who were to the existence of an anti-govern­ interested in his victory and had ment sentiment. This is obvious a stake in it. Thus Jat Sikh leaders from the fact that in 1957. when having lies with the Congress party even the Akalis were in alliance bring along other relatives and with the Congress party. Ajit Kumar friends into the party fold for vot­ could secure 30,011 voles as against ing for the Congress candidate. 39.166 votes for the Congress candi­ date. Perhaps it may well be that Another factor is the past political part of the reason for the success history of the village. Villages which of the Akali Dal lies in its ability were strongholds of the Congress to attract to itself this anti-govern­ movement in the pre-independence ment sentiment. period find it difficult to break away from their old loyalty. Sometimes Still another factor influencing old Congressmen, torn between their the voter's choice, though not in loyalty to the old Congress and the case of the Congress candidate Nehru, on the one hand, and their here whose ancestral village lay dissatisfaction with the present outside the constituency, is geogra­ Congress regime in the Punjab, on phical loyalty. Ajit Kumar polled the other, just sit it out at home. 85,4 per cent of the polled voles at On the other hand, the experiences polling station number 48, which with the Congress Government may included his village Dhat. Similarly, induce the voters of a particular while the election returns for the village to vote against the Congress other candidates were extremely 1276