Investor Presentaiton
Electoral Trends and Political Dynamics of Punjab Province
Don't Know
9
10.3
10.3
Total
87
100.0
100.0
100.0
The Role of Independent Candidates
The role of independent candidates in Punjab is central in understanding the
electoral dynamics and post-election settlements to form the government at the
provincial and national levels. The culture of contesting as an independent candidate
is popular particularly in the Southern Punjab region where candidates on the basis
of family, cast and group support contest elections and later on join the ruling party.
Consequently, independent candidates and small political parties take a central
position in post-election settlements in the formation of the government. For instance,
in the 2013 general elections, 12 national assembly independent candidates from
Punjab joined PML-N as they were in the position to form the government
(www.tribune.com.pk, 2013). Then, in the 2018 general elections, both PML-N and
PTI were somehow dependent on 29 independent candidates from Punjab to form
the provincial and national government (www.tribune.com.pk, 2018). Usually in such
situations, the candidates are in a good bargaining position and they mostly demand
a portfolio in the government. In this context, the survey data also endorse this
narrative as approximately 64 percent of the respondents agreed that independent
candidates have a decisive role in the political dynamics of Punjab after elections. On
the other hand, around 26 percent of the respondents did not agree with the decisive
role of independent candidates after elections.
Table 8
Do you think that independent candidates become decisive factor in Punjab
politics after elections?
Cumulative
Frequency
Percent
Valid Percent
Percent
Agree
Disagree
56
64.4
64.4
67.8
23
26.4
26.4
94.3
Valid
Don't Know
Total
5
5.7
5.7
100.0
87
100.0
100.0
Conclusion
The electoral dynamics of Punjab are dominated by a combination of
traditional and new factors including local dynamics, party politics, cast, and biradari
factors along with the cognitive features of local personalities. In addition, being the
most important and largest province in terms of a number of candidates, the overall
wave of election environment of Punjab has implications in the center as well. Besides
this, political maneuvering by the establishment has been increased in Punjab. The
survey indicates that people believe that they play an acute role in the whole process
of pre and post-election phase that have a negative impact on the democratic norms.
Moreover, it is being observed that along with the role of political parties,
independent candidates are also a significant factor in the politics of Punjab.
154View entire presentation