TARN TARAN, 14 November — A close contest unfolded in the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll on Friday as Aam Aadmi Party’s Harmeet Singh Sandhu emerged ahead in the initial trends, with Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa trailing. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June.
The counting of votes, which began at 8 a.m., is being conducted in 16 rounds at the International College of Nursing in Piddi. A total of 15 candidates are in the fray, including Karanbir Singh Burj of the Congress, Mandeep Singh representing Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), and Harjit Singh Sandhu of the BJP.
Early trends indicate a tight race between AAP and SAD, while Waris Punjab De has overtaken Congress to secure the third spot. “It’s still early, but the competition is intense. Every vote will matter in the coming rounds,” said an election official present at the counting centre.
Polling for the seat was held on Tuesday, with voter turnout recorded at 60.95 per cent. Analysts noted that the bypoll has attracted attention as a litmus test for the ruling AAP government in Punjab. “The outcome here could influence party strategies ahead of the next Assembly elections,” a political commentator mentioned.
Harmeet Singh Sandhu, responding to early trends, said, “We are grateful for the support shown by the people of Tarn Taran. It reflects their trust in our work and vision for the constituency.”
