Twenty-two farm organisations in Punjab that were part of the protest against three central farm laws formed a political front on Saturday and announced they would contest the upcoming Assembly elections.

These 22 farm bodies were among 32 farmer organisations from Punjab that participated in the yearlong movement that culminated in the repeal of the farm laws.

However, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella organisation of all the farmer outfits that led the movement, clarified it has nothing to do with this decision.

SKM leaders Darshan Pal and Jagjeet Singh Dallewal in a statement said the SKM, which is a platform of more than 400 different organisations across the country, was formed only to take up the issues of farmers. There is no call for boycott of elections and no plan of contesting polls, the SKM leaders said.

“The SKM stands by its policy of not allowing any political party to use its banner or stage. Any attempt to use the name of the SKM for elections will constitute a grave violation of the Morcha’s discipline,” the statement said.

The next meeting of the SKM, scheduled for January 15, shall take a final decision on whether farmer organisations and leaders who participate in the elections can stay in the SKM, it added.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), one of the largest farm outfits in Punjab, has already announced it will not participate in the polls.

Farmer leader Harmeet Singh Kadian said a platform of 22 groups, the Samyukt Samaj Morcha, has been set up to fight the Punjab polls due early next year.

Balbir Singh Rajewal of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) will be the leader of the Samyukt Samaj Morcha, he said. The outfit will contest all the 117 Assembly seats, Rajewal said.

Asked if there would be an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, Rajewal said no decision had yet been taken.