Punjab Farmer Crackdown Escalates Congress-AAP Feud, Reshapes 2027 Poll Landscape

Tensions within the INDIA bloc have hit a new low as the Congress intensifies its attack on AAP over the Punjab Police crackdown on protesting farmers. What was once an uneasy alliance is now unraveling, with Congress positioning itself as the primary opposition force in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

A day after the Punjab Police forcefully cleared protest sites at Shambhu and Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border and detained farmer leaders, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sharpened his offensive against both the AAP-led Punjab government and the BJP-ruled Centre.

“Two anti-farmer parties have now joined hands against the country’s food providers,” Kharge declared, alleging that both AAP and BJP were “drunk on power” and taking “criminal actions” against farmers.

He further recalled past incidents of farmer suppression, stating:

• “The country has not forgotten Mandsaur, where BJP fired on farmers.”
• “Nor has it forgotten Lakhimpur Kheri, where a minister’s son ran over protesters.”
• “In 2015, a farmer hanged himself at an AAP rally while Kejriwal stood as a mute spectator.”

Kharge accused both parties of betraying farmers, claiming:

• “BJP never fulfilled its MSP promise.”
• “AAP swiftly implemented the three black laws in Delhi.”

On Thursday, Congress MPs from Punjab staged a protest in Parliament, targeting Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for allegedly collaborating with the BJP in suppressing farmers.

INDIA Bloc in Disarray: The Deepening Congress-AAP Rift

Despite forging a seat-sharing deal in Delhi, Haryana, and Gujarat for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress and AAP have been drifting apart:

• October 2024 Haryana Assembly Polls: Congress refused an alliance, forcing AAP to contest solo. While BJP retained power, AAP split the opposition vote, weakening Congress’s prospects.
• February 2025 Delhi Assembly Elections: AAP declined to ally with Congress, triggering an all-out war.
  • Rahul Gandhi attacked AAP’s corruption scandals and the “Sheesh Mahal” bungalow controversy.
  • AAP retaliated by featuring Rahul in its campaign posters alongside “dishonest” leaders from Congress and BJP.
  • BJP swept Delhi after 27 years, while Congress failed to win a single seat.

The rift widened further when AAP leader Atishi ruled out an alliance in the 2027 Goa elections, stating “Congress cannot be trusted.”

Despite this, some within both parties advocate for unity, fearing a divided opposition will hand BJP electoral advantages. A Congress leader admitted:

• “Defeating BJP isn’t easy—we’ve seen this in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi. Despite good chances, the opposition lost.”

Punjab: The High-Stakes Political Battleground

Punjab remains a key flashpoint where Congress and AAP are in direct competition. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Punjab Congress leaders resisted a tie-up with AAP, further straining relations.

With the BJP playing a minor role and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in decline, Congress sees a golden opportunity to topple AAP in 2027 by capitalizing on rising anti-incumbency. Farmers, a powerful electoral force, could tip the scales in Congress’s favor.

Adding to AAP’s woes, Punjab LoP Partap Singh Bajwa claimed 32 AAP MLAs were in talks to defect—a claim dismissed by AAP as baseless.

After meeting Punjab Congress leaders, party general secretary Bhupesh Baghel declared:
“The AAP government is a sinking ship.”

With the farmer crackdown amplifying political tensions, Punjab’s 2027 election is shaping up to be a decisive battle for opposition leadership—one that could reshape the fight against the BJP on a national scale.