Tarn Taran bypoll: Congress zeroes in on three names, Bajwa confidant leads race

The Congress has zeroed in on three candidates for the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, with Karan Burj being the front-runner.

State’s ruling AAP, SAD and the BJP have already announced their candidates for the contest, the schedule for which is yet to be declared by the Election Commission.

In the aftermath of the recent floods, winning the seat in the Majha belt is crucial for the ruling party in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly elections.

Presently, the contest is being seen between AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa. Pro-Khalistan sympathiser and jailed Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh-led Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) has also announced to field its candidate.

Though three candidates — Karan Burj, Lalli Dhalla and Rajbir Singh Bhullar — are in contention for the Congress ticket, Burj is the front-runner, according to party sources. A senior state Congress leader confirmed that discussions had already been held and a formal announcement would to be made by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC).

Last month, the party had appointed sitting Raja Sansi MLA Sukhbinder Sukh Sarkaria as the election in-charge. Sources in the party said Karan Burj, a confidant of Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, was the first choice and consensus candidate of the Majha leaders. Rajbir Bhullar is close to state Congress chief Amrinder Raja Warring.

Lalli Dhalla, who is related to Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, was reluctant to contest the election, a source said. After the death of Congress leader Dharambir Agnihotri, who had won the seat in 2017, the party has failed to groom a leader in the area.