'Punjab Assembly By-elections: AAP Triumphs in Three Constituencies, Barnala Slips Away

In the recent Punjab by-elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured three out of four contested assembly seats, including Gidderbaha, Chabbewal, and Dera Baba Nanak. However, a notable loss occurred in Barnala, a constituency previously seen as an AAP stronghold.

P24 News Media

November 23, 2024

1 minute

'Punjab Assembly By-elections: AAP Triumphs in Three Constituencies, Barnala Slips Away

India

The recent by-elections in Punjab witnessed a significant political shift as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged victorious in three of the four assembly seats contested: Gidderbaha, Chabbewal, and Dera Baba Nanak. These elections were held on November 20, 2024, necessitated by the earlier election of the incumbent legislators to the Lok Sabha.

In a notable upset, the Congress party reclaimed the Barnala seat, marking a critical win in what was previously considered a stronghold of the AAP. This election cycle showcased high-stakes campaigning from all parties involved, reflecting the intense political environment in the region.

AAP's Gurdeep Singh Randhawa achieved a commendable victory in the Dera Baba Nanak assembly seat, defeating Congress candidate Jatinder Kaur by a margin of 5,699 votes. Randhawa garnered a total of 59,104 votes against Kaur's 53,405, while BJP's Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon trailed far behind with 6,505 votes. Kaur initially led in the counting rounds but ultimately fell short as Randhawa reclaimed the lead.

Meanwhile, in Barnala, Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhillon secured victory by defeating AAP's Harinder Singh Dhaliwal by a margin of 2,157 votes. Dhillon received 28,254 votes, with Dhaliwal close behind at 26,097. The BJP's Kewal Singh Dhillon and independent candidate Gurdeep Singh Batth followed, with 17,958 and 16,899 votes, respectively, while the Shiromani Akali Dal candidate received 7,900 votes.

Chabbewal saw AAP's Ishank Kumar winning decisively, defeating Congress's Ranjit Kumar by a substantial margin of 28,690 votes. Ishank, a physician by profession, secured 51,904 votes to Ranjit’s 23,214, with BJP's Sohan Singh Thandal finishing far behind at 8,692 votes. This by-election came after Ishank's father, Raj Kumar Chabbewal, a former Congress MLA, shifted to the AAP and was elected to the Lok Sabha.

In Gidderbaha, AAP's Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon triumphed over Congress's Amrita Warring by a notable margin of 21,969 votes. Dimpy managed to collect 71,644 votes while Warring, the spouse of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, received 49,675 votes. The third place went to former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, whose security deposit was forfeited after he received only 12,227 votes, failing to achieve the required threshold.

These bypoll results illustrate a shifting political landscape in Punjab as the AAP consolidates its power while the Congress seeks to regain its footing in the state. The political rivalry between the two parties remains intense, particularly after these significant wins and losses in strategically important constituencies.