Punjab bypolls set to shape political direction amid protests, shifting alliances, and public discontent.
Chandigarh: Punjab is gearing up for another election cycle with bypolls scheduled for four pivotal constituencies—Gidderbaha, Chabbewal, Dera Baba Nanak, and Barnala—bringing both political alliances and public discontent into sharper focus. With frequent elections and their accompanying model code of conduct, Punjab’s political scene is in constant flux. A notable aspect of this byelection is the resurgence of farmers’ protests, where unions have extended their disapproval not only toward BJP but also AAP, signalling widespread discontent.
Known as Punjab’s “Mother of Elections,” Gidderbaha has traditionally set the tone for the state’s political landscape. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has chosen to opt out of the bypolls, while BJP has absorbed several turncoat candidates into its ranks. AAP has deployed high-profile support, with MP Meet Hayer campaigning actively for his friend Harinder Singh Dhaliwal, the party’s candidate for Barnala. Additionally, AAP has fielded Ishank Chabbewal, son of AAP Hoshiarpur MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal, in the Chabbewal (SC) segment. Other AAP candidates include Gurdeep Singh Randhawa for Dera Baba Nanak and Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon in Gidderbaha, a recent switch from SAD.
Protests by the state’s farmers’ unions, led primarily by BKU Ugrahan, have further intensified the political landscape. On November 4, they began sit-ins outside the offices of BJP and AAP candidates in the bypoll-bound constituencies. Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, General Secretary of BKU Ugrahan, stated that the protests are fuelled by issues such as delayed paddy procurement and a shortage of DAP fertiliser, necessary for wheat sowing. Kokri Kalan criticised both the AAP-led state government and the central government, accusing them of deflecting responsibility while leaving farmers in crisis. He added that the union is committed to questioning candidates as they campaign for the upcoming polls. Besides these byelection-centred protests, the union also continues its demonstrations at 26 toll plazas across Punjab.
Escalating tensions between protesters and political candidates surfaced when BKU Ugrahan activists halted BJP candidate Manpreet Singh Badal’s vehicle in Gidderbaha, confronting him over the state’s delayed paddy lifting. Manpreet has previously blamed the AAP government for slow policy implementation, which he claims has exacerbated the crisis. On October 27, the Purani Pension Bahali Sangharsh Committee also staged a protest in Gidderbaha, demanding policy changes. Likewise, veterinary doctors organised a dharna in Gidderbaha, and the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) plans major rallies on November 9 in Barnala and November 17 in Gidderbaha, demonstrating wide-ranging support for agricultural and public sector concerns.
Amid these protests, Gidderbaha remains a focal point, with a rich history of shaping political careers, including that of Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who narrowly won the seat in 2022. Raja Warring’s wife, Amrita Warring, is now the Congress candidate for the byelection, representing the first woman candidate to contest from this constituency.
BJP’s candidate is Manpreet Singh Badal, who returned to Gidderbaha after a 12-year absence. Manpreet is also the nephew of five-time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who himself contested and won in Gidderbaha multiple times. Manpreet, who previously blamed AAP for slow policy actions impacting paddy lifting, could receive indirect support from SAD in these elections. In an interview, he noted having reconciled with his cousin, SAD president Sukhbir Badal, leading to speculation that he may gain backing from SAD in this bypoll.
Although Gidderbaha is notable for its VVIP political lineage, local residents have long awaited essential infrastructure improvements, such as a railway overpass. A month-long hunger strike over these demands recently ended on October 24, yet many in the area continue to face poor sanitation and frequent waterlogging, especially after rains. The constituency, with its 42 villages and predominantly rural populace, remains underserved, even as it sends high-profile figures to Punjab’s political arena.