The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday secured a clear victory in the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, with its candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu winning by a margin of 12,091 votes. The win adds a significant boost to AAP’s presence in the Majha region and reinforces its standing in Punjab’s border belt.
The bypoll, necessitated after the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal, saw a multi-cornered contest with 15 candidates in the fray. However, the main competition largely remained between AAP, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Independent candidate Mandeep Singh, who contested with the backing of the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De). The Congress and the BJP were also among the main participants in the race.
Final figures released by the Election Commission showed Sandhu securing 42,649 votes, maintaining a steady lead from the early rounds. His nearest rival from the SAD finished with 30,558 votes, while Karanbir Singh Burj of the Congress ended with 15,078 votes. Independent candidate Mandeep Singh (Waris Punjab De) secured 19,620 votes, finishing ahead of BJP nominee Harjit Singh Sandhu, who polled 6,239 votes.
The counting of votes began at 8am at the International College of Nursing, Piddi, where a multi-layered security arrangement was in place throughout the day. The process was conducted over 16 rounds, with party representatives closely monitoring the numbers as each round’s results were declared. According to poll officials, votes from all 138 polling stations were brought in after being secured in strong rooms since polling day.
The bypoll recorded nearly 61 percent voter turnout, slightly below the previous Assembly election but still considered a decent figure for a mid-term vote. Rural booths witnessed the highest turnout, where AAP eventually gained a decisive edge. The Waris Punjab De-backed Independent candidate also performed strongly in several clusters, adding a competitive angle to the race.
As the lead widened round after round, celebrations gradually broke out at the AAP camp. Party workers, holding yellow and blue flags, chanted slogans and distributed sweets. Senior AAP leaders called the victory an endorsement of the state government’s “work on the ground” and said the result reflected public trust in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership.
SAD workers, meanwhile, appeared subdued as counting progressed, acknowledging that the party’s efforts to reclaim its traditional stronghold had fallen short. Congress cadres also struggled to gain momentum, finishing far behind the leading contenders.
With AAP officially sealing the win, the party is expected to hold a public celebration later in the evening. The victory further strengthens AAP’s hold in the Majha region and gives it additional political leverage ahead of 2027 electoral battle.