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This is an archive article published on February 7, 2022

As Congress banks on Channi, the Dalit factor has many layers

Despite Punjab having the highest concentration of Dalits in the country of any state and despite as many as 34 reserved seats out of a total 117 in the state (more than 30%), Channi is the first CM in the state from the community.

Punjab Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu at an election rally, in Ludhiana, Sunday. (PTI)

Two weeks to go for the polls, the Congress on Sunday named Charanjit Singh Channi as its Chief Minister face. Despite Punjab having the highest concentration of Dalits in the country of any state – 32% of the population, against the national average of 16.6% – and despite as many as 34 reserved seats out of a total 117 in the state (more than 30%), Channi is the first CM in the state from the community.

Unlike their counterparts elsewhere, Dalits in Punjab are more prosperous, and many have climbed up the social ladder too, appropriating Jat Sikh surnames. Traditionally, they have never voted en masse for a single party, due to internal divisions. Even BSP founder Kanshi Ram, a Punjabi himself, was unable to make big gains as the party’s anti-Manuwadi and purity-pollution ideology did not resonate in the state heavily influenced by Sikhism, envisaged as a casteless religion, and Arya Samaj.

So can the Congress’s gamble of Dalit CM pay off?

The Community

In Punjab, Dalits are a conglomerate of 39 castes and many sub-castes, with different sets of beliefs. The Mazhabis, largely Sikhs, are numerically the most strong, comprising almost 31% of the SC population, followed closely by the Chamars or leather workers (26%), Ad Dharmis (14.19%) and Balmikis (11.2%). Channi is a Ramdasia, a sub-sect of the Chamars.

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Electorally, the Ad Dharmi / Ravidassia candidates have often got the lion’s share of seats. According to a study by Prof Nirmal Singh of Panjab University, they represented half the reserved tickets in 10 Assembly elections from 1985 to 2012.

The continuing Ravidassia clout is evident from the fact that the coming elections were postponed from February 14 to 20 as the Ravidas Jayanti, marked by week-long celebrations, falls on February 16.

The various caste associations routinely demand proportionate representation in government jobs. Balmikis and Mazhabis have already got this in the Punjab Civil Services, with the other groups accusing them of cornering half of the 25% reservation for SCs in government jobs in the state.

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The divisions came into sharp focus in 2009 after a guru of the Ravidassia sect was assassinated in Vienna, Austria, and the Balmikis and Meghas kept out of the protests. Ever since, the Ravidassias have been demanding the status of a separate religion in the Constitution.

The Spread

Geographically, the highest concentration of Dalits in Punjab is in the Doaba districts of Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr, where they number up to 45% in some of the 23 seats. Here, Dalit assertion has taken the form of Dalit pop, opulent houses, and deras, the most powerful being Dera Sach Khand at Ballan village, headquarters of the Ravidassia sect. Late last month, Channi spent a night at the Dera.

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The districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur have a considerable presence of Dalits who have converted to Christianity and who have traditionally alternated between Congress and the Akali Dal, with a tilt towards the former.

In Malwa, the districts of Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Muktsar and Moga have a large population of landless labourers, and it’s here that complaints of landowning Jats appropriating the village common land meant for SCs are most common.

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Despite their numerical strength, Dalits own only 6% of landholdings in the state and occupy only 3.3% of the total area under cultivation.

The politics

While the announcement of Channi as CM face might not bring together Dalits across the state, it has enthused SC voters in some parts of Doaba. However, the main reason is the slashing of power bills by the government in January.

In the last elections, the Congress had won 21 of the 34 seats reserved for Dalits while AAP had won 9 and finished second on 6 more seats. The Akali Dal had won only 4 SC seats.

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However, this time the Akalis, who introduced schemes such as free atta-daal and Shagun for the weddings of Dalit girls, have tied up with the BSP, giving it 20 seats. The last time the two had a truck was in the 1996 Lok Sabha polls when the BSP had won three seats. The BSP has had a poor run in the Assembly polls ever since, with its vote share falling from 16.3% in 1992 to 1.5% in 2017.

The voting history

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A high vote share of Dalits is not necessarily a guarantor of victory. The Congress lost the polls to the Akali Dal-BJP combine in 2007 and 2012 despite having the highest vote share among Dalit Sikhs.

In 2007, it was estimated to have got 56% of the Hindu Dalit votes against 25% for the Akali Dal-BJP, and 49% of the Dalit Sikh votes against the latter’s 32%, but still could not form the government

Total reserved seats: 34

2012

Cong: 10

Akali Dal: 22

BJP: 2

2017

Cong: 21

Akali Dal: 4

AAP: 9

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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