Electoral Trends and Political Dynamics of Punjab Province

Abstract

The electoral process is an integral part of a democratic system. It is the legitimate and constitutional way of coming into power and governing the state. Consistency in the process of elections and a transparent electoral process strengthens the overall political development in the state. The electoral system of Pakistan encompasses multiple factors including identity, party affiliation, local grouping, and provincial-based issues. Punjab has a vital role in the overall political dynamics of Pakistan. In this context, this paper entails a quantitative and qualitative study of the main electoral trends of Punjab. It is being observed that political party-based association, local groupings, factors of caste, biradari, ideology, and religious identities are the main contributing factors in defining the voting behavior and constituency trend in Punjab.