ABSTRACT
The chapter argues that the politics of Punjab was deeply impacted upon by the partition as it led to the remapping of the territorial and demographic configuration of the state. The Hindu-Sikh relations also underwent significant change as Punjabi Suba movement was launched by Akalis. The reorganisation of the state enabled the SAD to think of winning the election in what was now a Sikh majority state. However, the Congress retained its support among the Sikhs and also in the rural Punjab. Akalis as a consequence had to go for coalitional politics. The demand for autonomy and its unfulfilment led to the marginalisation of mainstream politics and rise of militancy. The chapter covers the period up to 1997 as by that time militancy ceased to exist and electoral politics made a comeback.
