The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tightened its grip on the Tarn Taran bypoll on Friday, stretching its lead to 3,668 votes after the eighth round of counting, in what is now turning into a decisive shift in the high-stakes battle with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
According to the latest figures shared by election officials:
AAP: 20,454
SAD: 16,786
Congress: 8,760
Waris Punjab De (Ind, Mandeep): 9,162
BJP: 2,302
AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu has maintained a steady upward trajectory through the middle rounds, converting a tight early contest into a sizable lead. SAD’s Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, who was competitive in the opening rounds, now faces a widening margin that is becoming increasingly difficult to overcome.
Inside the counting hall, AAP’s camp appeared buoyant as the eighth-round results were announced, while SAD workers looked visibly tense with the gap expanding rapidly over the last rounds.
The bypoll, held following the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal, is being seen as a crucial test for the ruling party’s standing in Majha, a region where organisational strength and rural loyalty often decide outcomes. AAP’s surge has given the party a clear advantage as counting progresses into later rounds.
Congress and Waris Punjab De remain distant players in the contest, though Independent candidate Mandeep of Waris Punjab De continues to hold a stronger vote share than the BJP.
With AAP crossing the 20,000-vote mark and opening up a lead of more than 3,600 votes, the pressure is now entirely on SAD to pull off a late recovery. As things stand, the momentum remains firmly with AAP as counting continues.