Inside Punjab's 'Chief Minister Factory': Who Has Edge In Malwa?
The Malwa region is identified as the critical battleground for Punjab's 2027 assembly elections, holding 59% of the state's seats. Political parties are strategizing to win over the region's diverse demographic of farmers, Dalits, and urban voters.
Why it matters
As the historical heart of Punjab's politics and farmer unions, the outcome in Malwa is a primary indicator of which party will form the state government.
Punjab's next Chief Minister will very likely be decided in one place: the Malwa belt. With 69 of the state's 117 assembly seats, nearly 59 per cent of the total, this region has produced five of Punjab's last Chief Ministers, including the current one, Bhagwant Mann. It has also long been the beating heart of farmer politics, home to some of the state's most powerful farmer unions. As Punjab heads towards the 2027 election, the battle for Malwa is shaping up to be the one that matters most.The Malwa belt is dominated by the Jat Sikh landlord community, which makes up 35 to 40 per cent of the electorate. Dalits follow at 31 to 33 per cent, then OBCs at 15 to 18 per cent, and Urban Upper Castes and trading communities at 12 to 15 per cent.
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