A high-stakes poll battle is on ever since AAP’s entry made it a triangular contest. There are approximately 35 lakh Christians in Punjab. In 15 constituencies out of 117 in total, the Christian vote share accounts for anything between 35 to 55 per cent.
There are 60 major British- era churches, which are nearly 150 years old.
Congress has chalked out an elaborate strategy to woo Christian voters. The community is being promised special status, reservation in government jobs, burial grounds, land to build houses, and an assurance on renovation and maintenance of Churches.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Singh Bajwa, said, “Under the constitution Hindu Dalits, Sikh Dalits have given special status so why not special status for Christian Dalits. In many Akali dominated villages, Christians are not allowed to bury their dead. So, we will ensure that land is earmarked for burial grounds in Christian-dominated villages.”
For the first time, Congress party has appointed five Christian general secretaries in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. The party is also organising five major meetings under its Masihi Adhikar Samelan in Christian dominated constituencies like Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Patiala. Finally, one mega rally will be organised in Ludhiana.
“We have also asked the community leaders to come up with their wish lists. These suggestions and demands will be included in our election manifesto,” said Anil Thomas, vice chairman, Congress’ minority department.
Aam Adami Party too has rolled out a series of meetings with community leaders in various Christian dominated constituencies to understand their pulse. Punjab in charge and general secretary, AAP, Sanjay Singh said, “We have been meeting Christian community members and they have complained that nothing much has happened for their betterment in the last decade.”
However, the ruling dispensation in Punjab has dismissed Congress and AAP’s concern on the plight of Christians in the state as a political gimmick. Shiromani Akali Dal, General Secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra, said, “They are suddenly thinking about Christians, whereas our government has done a lot for them. For the first time in the country, a Christian Welfare Board was constituted by the SAD-BJP government in Punjab. This board sends its recommendations to the state government and we take them very seriously.”