Team News Riveting
Chandigarh, December 25
The 22 farmer unions that were part of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which spearheaded the agitation against the three fam laws, today floated a political party to contest the ensuing assembly elections in Punjab.
The political outfit has been named Samyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM). In all, 32 farmer unions were part of SKM but 10 stayed away to be part of the political front that was announced at a meeting held in Mullanpur (Ludhiana) on Friday.
The SSM is likely to enter into an alliance with Aam Aadmi Party. Sources said that the deal would be finalised as AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal was on a Punjab tour. A meeting between him and farmer leaders led by Balbir Singh Rajewal is likely to take place during the visit.
The unions that refused to join the political front have justified that the farmers’ struggle was continuing as the agitation had been only postponed following the repeal of the three farm laws by the Union government. Under the given circumstances, it was not correct to contest the elections and indulge into active politics.
