Caste in Punjab Politics

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Caste and politics: a theoretical perspective. 3. Caste and politics in Punjab: an overview. 4. Caste and state legislative leadership in Punjab (1966-2007). 5. Role of caste in elections in Punjab. 6. Caste and council of Ministers in Punjab. 7. Caste as support base of political parties. 8. Legislators role perception. 9. Conclusion. 10. Bibliography.

From the preface: This work primarily deals with the interplay of caste and politics in Punjab since 1966. Due to the reorganization of the state in 1966, far-reaching demographic changes occurred in the society of Punjab. With the reorganisation, Punjab became the first and only Sikh dominated state in India. As a result, the Akali Dal emerged as major contender for power against the dominance of the Congress in the state politics. Among other things, it helped the Jat Sikhs to be in a numerically dominant position. The other caste communities including: the higher castes, the backward classes, other backward classes and the SCs constituted the important minority caste groups.