AAP banks on ‘turncoat strategy’ in Tarn Taran

CHANDIGARH: Punjab is set for its seventh Assembly bypoll since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in March 2022, with the November 11 Tarn Taran election reflecting the state's shifting political landscape. The ruling party once again relies on its successful "turncoat formula," fielding Harmeet Singh Sandhu, a former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader who has represented Tarn Taran three times before.

The political battle for Tarn Taran is poised to be a seven-way contest:

1. Harmeet Singh Sandhu (AAP)—Former SAD leader who represented Tarn Taran three times earlier (2002 as Independent, 2007 and 2012 on SAD ticket) has now joined AAP and is being projected as a "popular and honest face".

2. Harjeet Singh Sandhu (BJP)—The BJP's candidate for the seat, aiming to consolidate urban and non-panthic votes.

3. Karanbir Singh (Congress)—Projected as a "new face" by the party, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has termed him a representative of "secular Punjab".

4. Sukhwinder Kaur (SAD)—The main SAD candidate contesting to regain the party's once-strong panthic bastion.

5. Sham Lal Gandhi (Sach Kahun Party)—A local-level candidate known for raising civic issues, representing the regional Sach Kahun Party.

6. Mandeep Singh (Waris Punjab De Akali Dal Waris faction)—Backed by the faction led by Amritpal Singh, currently lodged in Dibrugarh Jail. Mandeep is the elder brother of Sandeep Singh "Sunny," an accused in the 2022 killing of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri. His entry has added a strong panthic dimension to the bypoll.

7. Rajesh Walia (AAP covering candidate) and Kanchanpreet Kaur (SAD covering candidate)—Have also filed papers as substitutes for their respective party nominees.

Since 2022, when AAP stormed to power with 92 of 117 seats, Punjab has seen six Assembly bypolls Ludhiana West, Jalandhar West, Gidderbaha, Barnala, Chabbewal (SC) and Dera Baba Nanak. The ruling party won five, losing only Barnala. In three, it fielded turncoats, in two others, it bet on a loyalist and its own Rajya Sabha MP.

In Jalandhar West, AAP fielded BJP defector Mohinder Bhagat, who defeated former AAP leader-turned-BJP candidate Sheetal Angural by 37,325 votes. Bhagat was later inducted into the Cabinet and allotted Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, and Horticulture portfolios.

In Gidderbaha, AAP gave the ticket to Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, a four-decade SAD loyalist who joined AAP just two weeks before the bypoll. Dhillon defeated Congress’s Amrita Warring by 21,969 votes a record margin.

In Chabbewal, AAP's Ishank Kumar Chabbewal, son of MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, won his debut contest by 25,690 votes against Congress's Ranjit Kumar. In Ludhiana West, AAP fielded its Rajya Sabha MP and businessman Sanjeev Arora, while in Dera Baba Nanak, it fielded Gurdeep Singh Randhawa—both emerging victorious. The only exception was Barnala, where AAP's Harinder Singh Dhaliwal lost to Congress's Kuldeep Singh Dhillon.