The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) solidified its dominance in the Tarn Taran bypoll on Friday, with its candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu extending his lead to 5,510 votes after the ninth round of counting, deepening the pressure on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
The latest official figures show a widening gap between AAP and its closest rival:
AAP: 23,773
SAD:18,263
Congress: 9,470
Independent (Mandeep, Waris Punjab De): 10,416
BJP: 3,009
The ninth round marked yet another strong push for AAP, which has been steadily expanding its margin since mid-morning. What began as a close fight in the early rounds has now turned into a one-sided surge, with SAD’s Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa struggling to keep pace as the gap crosses 5,500 votes.
Inside the counting centre, AAP workers appeared upbeat as fresh numbers came in, with the party now sensing a comfortable finish if the trend continues. SAD supporters, meanwhile, remained tense, acknowledging that the gap is becoming difficult to recover unless the late rounds swing sharply in their favour.
The bypoll, necessitated by the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal, has been one of Punjab’s most watched contests, particularly in the Majha belt where both AAP and SAD are trying to consolidate their foothold. AAP’s rising lead indicates strong support from several key rural pockets.
Congress and the BJP remain well behind, while Independent candidate Mandeep of Waris Punjab De continues to perform noticeably better than the BJP, reflecting a shift in alternative vote preferences in the constituency.
With AAP now ahead by 5,510 votes, the ruling party appears firmly in control as counting heads into the final rounds. For SAD, the window to stage a comeback is narrowing rapidly.