Farmers’ Body SKM’s 22 Member Unions Form Political Party

A part of the farmers' union's umbrella body, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Saturday informed that they were breaking away from it to form a new political party to contest in Punjab elections.

Notably, 22 of the 32 farmers' unions that came together under the SKM banner to protest against the three contentious farm laws have set up a political party and are likely to contest all of the 117 seats in the Punjab elections, slated to be held around February-March.

It will be known as the Samyukt Samaj Morcha and is expected to side with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), though there have not been any announcements yet.

Harmeet Singh Kadian, the leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Kadian faction, said, "SKM (Samyukt Kisan Morcha) was an umbrella body of different groups… we won the agitation (against the farm laws). But, when we returned, there was pressure… if we could win that battle, we can win the election as well. So… following public demand we are presenting Samyukt Samaj Morcha".

He said, "This is a morcha, or movement, not a political party because again people from different ideologies have come together to contest polls… Had we decided earlier also to contest the election we would have also announced a symbol".

Another farmer leader BS Rajewal, the head of the BKU Rajewal faction said, "We were pressured to fight polls… we will speak to like-minded people who are well-wishers of Punjab."

First, we have to strengthen our party at the village level… Aam log (the common people) will be part of the Samyukt Samaj Morcha," he said, as he played down talk of the Samyukt Samaj Morcha allying with the Aam Aadmi Party; "No negotiation… this is only media speculation," he added.

The news came just hours after the SKM had denied any claims of contesting elections.

The umbrella body said, "The SKM – which is a across the country, is formed only for the issues of farmers. There is no call for boycott of elections and even no understanding of contesting elections…".

Notably, the farm laws that were passed in September last year, had triggered furious protests nationwide.

However, last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the three laws would be withdrawn, just three months before the UP and Punjab elections.

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