The Tarn Taran bypoll tilted further in the Aam Aadmi Party’s favour on Friday as party candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu expanded his lead to 1,836 votes after the seventh round of counting, putting the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on the back foot in what has turned into a tense two-way contest.
With each round, AAP has steadily widened the gap. The party, which was ahead by 892 votes after the sixth round, delivered a stronger push in the seventh round, signalling a shift in voter preference as counting progresses. SAD’s Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, who had briefly led earlier in the morning, now finds herself trailing significantly as AAP gains momentum.
Officials said counting was moving smoothly and round-wise updates were being shared with party agents present inside the hall. Next two rounds are expected through the next one hour before a final picture emerges.
The bypoll has been closely watched because the seat was held by AAP until the death of MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal earlier this year. AAP has been under pressure to retain its hold in Majha, a region where the party has struggled to deepen its organisational network. Friday’s trends, however, offer a morale boost to the ruling party.
For SAD, which is trying to reclaim lost political ground in Punjab, the widening margin is a concern. Party workers had hoped for a late surge, but AAP’s rise in the seventh round has altered the trajectory of the contest.
Congress, Waris Punjab De and the BJP remain far behind, leaving the spotlight firmly on the AAP–SAD fight.
With just two rounds left, both parties remain cautious, but the seventh-round numbers have given AAP a clear upper hand as counting enters its later stages.