Why Punjab’s Dalits remain divided
Despite representing 32% of Punjab's population, the Dalit community remains politically marginalized due to internal caste divisions and religious fragmentation. Mainstream political parties are actively courting these voters ahead of the 2027 state elections, though a unified political front remains elusive.
Why it matters
Understanding the internal dynamics of the Dalit vote bank is essential for analyzing the political landscape and power structures in Punjab.
The Scheduled Caste (SC) community of Punjab is close to 32% of the total population of the State, the highest in the country, yet they remain politically marginalised, having produced only one Dalit Chief Minister and that too for a brief period in the year 2021.
With elections due in early 2027 in the State, mainstream parties, including the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), are once again courting Dalit voters.
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