The upcoming by-election in Punjab’s Tarn Taran Assembly constituency has turned into a five-cornered political battle, drawing major attention across the state. Scheduled for November 11, with counting on November 14, the poll was necessitated by the death of sitting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal earlier this year. The contest is now being seen as a crucial test of Punjab’s shifting political mood ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has fielded former Akali leader Harmeet Singh Sandhu, who joined AAP earlier this year. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been leading an aggressive campaign, describing the election as a “battle between truth and deceit” and urging voters to continue supporting AAP’s model of governance based on welfare schemes, job creation and anti-corruption measures.
The Congress, seeking to regain lost ground in Majha, has nominated Karanbir Singh (Burj) as its candidate. The party is banking on local discontent over unemployment, drug abuse and inflation, while attempting to revive its traditional voter base by calling for a return to experienced governance.
The Shiromani Akali Dal has chosen Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, a local leader who recently joined the party following the merger of the Azad Group with the SAD. Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal has appealed to voters to “restore Panthic dignity” and support the Akalis as the true voice of Sikh institutions and rural Punjab.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Harjit Singh Sandhu, the district unit head, in a bid to strengthen its presence in Punjab’s border belt. The BJP campaign has focused on issues of national security, infrastructure, and rural development, with the party positioning itself as a credible alternative to state-based political outfits.
The fifth major contender is Mandeep Singh, though named as independent candidate, he has backing of the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) faction, the party led by jailed MP Amritpal Singh. Mandeep Singh, brother of incarcerated accused Sandeep Singh alias Sunny, has added a new Panthic dimension to the contest. His campaign has drawn significant attention among sections of the Sikh youth and has unsettled both the AAP and the SAD camps, with concerns that he could split traditional Akali votes.
With five strong players in the fray, Tarn Taran’s political landscape has become a reflection of Punjab’s broader churn. Sources, say that local issues such as border security, farm distress, and drug trafficking are dominating public discourse far more than national themes.
Political observers believe the outcome will hinge on booth-level mobilisation, voter turnout, and how well each party can translate its local narrative into votes. "A win for AAP would reaffirm its governance credibility and consolidate its position in Majha. A Congress victory would mark the party’s revival in a region where it once dominated, while the Akalis view the election as a chance to regain their Panthic base. The BJP, though still a marginal force in the constituency, hopes to improve its rural standing. For Waris Punjab De, even a modest showing would signal the growing space for Panthic-aligned politics in Punjab".
They further said that as Tarn Taran prepares to vote, the bypoll has grown into far more than a local contest. It has become a measure of Punjab’s political pulse — a small seat carrying large implications for the state’s future power balance.
