The Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP) clinched three out of 4 Meeting seats in Punjab’s bypolls, whereas the Congress managed to assert one, Barnala, on Saturday. The elections dealt a blow to outstanding leaders, with key bastions falling and high-stakes battles of status being misplaced.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring each did not safe victories for his or her wives of their strongholds. Randhawa’s spouse, Jatinder Kaur, misplaced from Dera Baba Nanak, whereas Warring’s spouse, Amrita, got here up brief in Gidderbaha. Each leaders, now MPs, had vacated these seats after their Lok Sabha wins, however their lack of ability to retain them might have implications for the 2027 Meeting elections.
In Gidderbaha, AAP candidate Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon emerged victorious with 71,644 votes, defeating Amrita Warring, who managed 49,675 votes. Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, contesting on a BJP ticket, completed third with 12,227 votes. As soon as thought of his stronghold, Gidderbaha marks one other setback for Badal.
Barnala proved to be the one comfort for Congress, with first-timer Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon defeating AAP’s Harinder Singh Dhaliwal. The seat, beforehand held by former AAP MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, was thought of important as it’s a part of the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s dwelling turf.
In Dera Baba Nanak, AAP’s Gurdeep Randhawa defeated Jatinder Kaur Randhawa, aided by obvious help from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sucha Singh Langah. Congress insiders claimed that SAD’s tacit help for AAP candidates additionally impacted ends in Gidderbaha.
AAP’s strongest efficiency got here from Chabbewal, the place Dr Ishank Chabbewal, son of Congress-turned-AAP chief Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, secured a powerful victory with a margin of 28,690 votes over Congress’s Ranjit Kumar. Whereas AAP had pledged to keep away from dynastic politics, this consequence helped the celebration consolidate its place within the area.
For BJP, the bypolls had been a disappointment. Kewal Dhillon, contesting from Barnala, might solely safe the third place.
The Congress accused SAD of not directly serving to AAP by transferring its vote financial institution to it. Raja Warring criticised the Akalis for supporting AAP candidates in Gidderbaha and Dera Baba Nanak, stating, “The Akalis didn’t assist Manpreet Badal however labored to make sure AAP’s victory.”
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