TARN TARAN, 14 November — The Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll witnessed a tightly fought contest on Friday, with Aam Aadmi Party candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu leading in early vote counts, followed by Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa. Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) candidate Mandeep Singh surpassed Congress’ Karanbir Singh Burj to claim the third position, according to initial trends.
The bypoll was conducted following the demise of sitting MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June. Counting began at 8 a.m. at the International College of Nursing in Piddi and is expected to conclude in 16 rounds. A total of 15 candidates are contesting the seat, with BJP’s Harjit Singh Sandhu among the prominent names.
Election officials highlighted the competitiveness of the contest. “Harmeet Sandhu and Sukhwinder Kaur are nearly neck-and-neck in several rounds, and the margins are slim. The final result will be clear only after all rounds are completed,” a senior official noted.
Polling on Tuesday recorded 60.95 per cent voter turnout, reflecting active participation despite challenging weather conditions. Political analysts observed that the Tarn Taran bypoll is being closely watched across Punjab. “This bypoll offers a clear snapshot of the public mood and may set the tone for upcoming elections,” one analyst said.
Harmeet Singh Sandhu, reacting to his lead, said, “The people’s trust is encouraging, and we remain committed to serving Tarn Taran. Every vote counts, and we hope for a fair outcome.”
