Balbir Singh Rajewal

Balbir Singh Rajewal (born 20 August 1943) is an Indian farm union leader and politician from Ludhiana, Punjab. He is founder of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) and the Chief Ministerial candidate of Sanyukt Samaj Morcha party for the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. Rajewal is known for his active participation in 2020-2021 Indian farmers' protest.[3]

Balbir Singh Rajewal
Rajewal in 2021
Born (1943-08-20) 20 August 1943[1][2]
Ludhiana, Punjab, British India
(present-day India)
Occupations
  • Farmer protestor
  • politician
Political partySanyukt Samaj Morcha
Movement2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest

Early life

Rajewal was born on 20 August 1943. He started his career as a telegraphist in the post and telegraph department but in 1968 he resigned from his job.[4]

Farmer activist

In May 1972, Rajewal formed Punjab Khetibari Union with merger of 11 peasants groups in Chandigarh.[5]

When in 1978, PKU transformed into Bharatiya Kisan Union, he was appointed Secretary of the Union.[4] He is also credited with writing the Constitution of BKU. He also worked with Mahendra Singh Tikait and Sharad Anantrao Joshi. In 2009, he went on hunger strike and demanded relief for farmers under drought funds and succeeded in getting relief to farmers.[4]

2020 Farmers Protest
Main article: 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest
Rajewal during the farmers' protest

In 2020, Government of India passed three farm acts, along with other 31 Farmer Unions in Punjab,[6] he started protest against these laws in Punjab and then at Singhu Border near Delhi at Haryana.[7] He is also the member of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM).

Politics

Rajewal has been close to various political parties in past, including Shiromani Akali Dal, Indian National Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party, but didn't accept any official post.[8] During 2020-2021 Farmers' protest, he was against any political participation.[9]


After the withdrawal of Farm laws by Government of India in November 2021, the 22 Farm unions of Punjab broke away from the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and announced intentions to participate in 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election.[10] Balbir Singh Rajewal has announced to be Chief Minister face of the new party named as Sanyukt Samaj Morcha.[9] SKM has distanced itself from the new party and said it is not associated with SSM. The new party is not allowed to use the SKM banners.[10]

Sanyukt Samaj Morcha
Sanyukt Samaj Morcha
AbbreviationSSM
LeaderBalbir Singh Rajewal [11]
FounderBalbir Singh Rajewal
Founded25 December 2021[12]
Headquarters92/C Bhagwanpur Road, Samrala, Ludhiana[13]
IdeologyAgrarianism
Colours  Green
AllianceSanyukt Sangharsh Party

In 2020, after the passing of three farm laws by the Parliament of India, large protests against them took place. Until the suspension of the protests, all 32 Punjab Farm Unions were against any political participation.[14]

After the Government announced the withdrawal of the three farm laws, 22 out 32 Punjab Farmer Unions announced their intention to participate in the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. Sanyukt Samaj Morcha a new political party was founded.

Balbir Singh Rajewal was selected as Chief Minister candidate. Samyukt Kisan Morcha has distanced itself from the new party and said it is not associated with SSM. The new party is not allowed to use the SKM banners.[10]

The Election Commission of India registered the Morcha on 2 February 2022.[15]

2022 Punjab election

Sanyukt Samaj Morcha announced an alliance with the Sanyukt Sangharsh Party for the 2022 Punjab elections.[16]

The Nawan Punjab Party’s President Dharamvir Gandhi extended his support to Morcha.[17] The Marxist Communist Party of India (United) also extended their support to Morcha.[18]

On 16 January 2022, the Aapna Punjab Party merged with Sanyukt Samaj Morcha.[19] The Bhartiya Aarthik Party[20] also later joined Sanyukt Samaj Morcha as well.[21]

Sanyukt Samaj Morcha lost all the seats they contested.

See also

References
  1. "The farmer negotiators". The Indian Express. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  2. Rozana Spokesman (20 August 2021). "ਅੱਜ ਹੈ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਆਗੂ ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਜੇਵਾਲ ਦਾ ਜਨਮਦਿਨ". Facebook (in Punjabi). Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. Sethi, Chitleen K. (2 December 2020). "Acupuncturist, ex-Army man, doctor — 5 farmer leaders who shaped protest against farm laws". ThePrint. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  4. "50 years in farm fight and going strong Balbir Singh Rajewal". Times of India. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  5. Kochanek, Stanley A.; Hardgrave, Robert L. (2007). India: Government and Politics in a Developing Nation. Cengage Learning. p. 255. ISBN 978-0495007494.
  6. "Punjab Farmer unions one year". Indian Express. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  7. "Men who led farmers agitation". Firstpost. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  8. "From being a farm stir face, Rajewal set to play a key role in Punjab polls". The Indian Express. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  9. "Balbir Singh Rajewal to be cm face". One India. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  10. "Breakaway farmer unions say they will contest Punjab polls". Hindustan Times. 25 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  11. Balbir Singh Rajewal Chief Minister candidate from Sanyukt Samaj Morcha
  12. "22 Farmer Unions form political front to contest Punjab assembly polls". The Hindu. 25 December 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  13. SSM opens office in Ludhiana
  14. Service, Tribune News. "Will show black flags to Charuni in Punjab like other political parties: Rajewal". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  15. "EC registers Sanyukt Samaj Morcha to allot symbol soon". PTC NEWS. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  16. Live, A. B. P. (17 January 2022). "बलबीर राजेवाल के साथ आए गुरनाम चढूनी, संयुक्त समाज मोर्चा और एसएसपी में हुआ गठबंधन". www.abplive.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  17. Bharat Khanna (13 January 2022). "'country Needs To Be Saved From Bjp, Its Allies & Hidden Allies Like Kejri' | Ludhiana News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  18. Service, Tribune News. "Punjab Poll: MCPI (U) lends support to Samyukt Samaj Morcha". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  19. "Punjab polls: Aapna Punjab Party merges into Sanyukt Samaj Morcha". MSN. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  20. "Sanyukt Samaj Morcha opens office in Ludhiana, 65 apply to contest polls". Hindustan Times. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  21. "ssm: Sanyukt Samaj Morcha Joins Hands With Bap | Ludhiana News - Times of India". The Times of India. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
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