The absence of Punjab's lone Dalit minister from the Doaba region, Balkar Singh, has been conspicuous in campaigning for the upcoming Jalandhar West Assembly bypoll. While other Cabinet ministers including Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Aman Arora have been actively canvassing support in the city, Minister Balkar Singh is yet to be seen on the campaign trail.
The byelection scheduled for July 10th is significant as Jalandhar West is an urban constituency where the Local Bodies Minister's role in campaigning could prove important. However, it seems the party has opted to keep him away from campaign activities. Civic works are ongoing across the area under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's guidance, but most are being managed without Minister Balkar Singh's involvement.
This comes after a video allegedly featuring the minister went viral last month, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls where the ruling AAP fared poorly in Balkar's home turf of Kartarpur. While he was present at some party protests recently, Balkar Singh has largely stayed away from the prominent campaigning in Jalandhar West. When contacted, the minister declined to comment on his absence from the bypoll efforts.
Political observers note that keeping the minister at a distance may be a strategic decision by AAP to avoid potential backlash linked to the prior controversy. The byelection outcome will offer insights into electoral dynamics amid controversial episodes involving party representatives. For now, Dalit voters and other sections will closely watch the role – or lack thereof – played by their sole representative in the state cabinet.
