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Pakistan Social Sciences Review April-June 2022, Vol. 6, No. 2 [146-156] P-ISSN 2664-0422 O-ISSN 2664-0430 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR www.pssr.org.pk. RESEARCH PAPER 1. Electoral Trends and Political Dynamics of Punjab Province Yawar Hayat Shah* 1 Gulshan Majeed² PhD Scholar Political Science, Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan 2. Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan DOI PAPER INFO Received: February 12, 2022 Accepted: April 05, 2022 Online: April 14, 2022 Keywords: Biradari, Electoral Trends, Local Politics, Punjab, Voting Behavior *Corresponding Author yawarhayatshah@ya hoo.com Introduction ABSTRACT http://doi.org/10.35484/pssr.2022(6-II)14 The electoral process is an integral part of a democratic system. It is the legitimate and constitutional way of coming into power and governing the state. Consistency in the process of elections and a transparent electoral process strengthens the overall political development in the state. The electoral system of Pakistan encompasses multiple factors including identity, party affiliation, local grouping, and provincial-based issues. Punjab has a vital role in the overall political dynamics of Pakistan. In this context, this paper entails a quantitative and qualitative study of the main electoral trends of Punjab. It is being observed that political party-based association, local groupings, factors of caste, biradari, ideology, and religious identities are the main contributing factors in defining the voting behavior and constituency trend in Punjab. Punjab being the largest province in terms of population has a predominant position on the political chessboard of Pakistan. In terms of parliamentary numbers, Punjab has 148 seats in the national assembly of Pakistan. In addition, under the women quota, Punjab has 35 seats (www.na.gov.pk, n.d.).For decades the electoral demography of Punjab is symbolic that the one who rules Punjab dominates in the center as well. Elections trends across Pakistan vary in terms of voting behavior and the culture of participation in politics. Voting behavior and electoral choices are a combination of psychological, sociological, socio-economic, and political realities of the area. Political mobilization and electoral campaigns predetermine the participatory culture of the society. Therefore, electoral trends have a profound impact on the overall democratic culture of the state. Electoral contestations in Punjab are mainly derived from multifaceted factors including party affiliations, local groupings, caste, sectarian division, family ties, and personality-specific support. Literature Review In this context, Hassan Javid has given a comprehensive historical description of the political elite in Punjab and their role in electoral politics. The ruling land- owned elite in rural Punjab remained dominant on the political structure of Punjab in the pre-Partition as well as in the post-partition phase. Though the colonial

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