Tarn Taran bypoll: Ping-pong between SAD-AAP; will Punjab’s Majha spring a surprise

The Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll is being closely watched as analysts believe the outcome would reflect the broader mood of voters in Majha, a region often seen as an indicator of Punjab’s political direction.

In an unexpected twist in Punjab’s Majha region, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa had taken a lead in the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, leaving the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominee Harmeet Singh Sandhu trailing.

The contest in Tarn Taran has been intense, with multiple parties — AAP, SAD, Waris Punjab De (WPD), Congress and the BJP — vying for the seat.

For the Congress candidate Karanbir Singh Burj, currently placed third, the result may prompt yet another round of introspection as the party’s campaign momentum seemed to fade after a strong start.

According to early trends, Randhawa was ahead of Sandhu till the third round. 

Independent candidate Mandeep Singh followed next, while the BJP candidate was fifth.

Early chatter on social media suggests rising dissatisfaction with AAP, with some users commenting that “anything is better than AAP” and alleging quiet support from the BJP to the Akali Dal.

Counting began at 8 am on Friday under heavy security at the International College of Nursing, Piddi. A total of 16 rounds of counting are scheduled.

The result is expected to carry significant political weight, shaping undercurrents in Punjab’s sensitive border belt and setting the tone for the 2027 Assembly elections.