Punjab Bypolls: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress were locked in a fierce battle in Punjab's bypolls for four Assembly constituencies, with counting underway since 8 am on Saturday. AAP won three constituencies, including Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, and Dera Baba Nanak, while Congress won in Barnala.
In a boost to the Bhagwant Mann led government, the ruling AAP in Punjab won three seats while the Congress secured one of the four seats for which bypolls were held.
In Chabbewal (SC), AAP candidate Ishank Kumar Chabbewal won the seat by leading with 21,081 votes. His closest rival, Congress candidate Ranjit Kumar, was defeated, while BJP's Sohan Singh Thandal is in third place. Supporters of Ishank Kumar have already begun celebrating what appears to be a decisive victory.
AAP’s Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon won by 21,969 votes in Gidderbaha. His nearest competitor, Congress’ Amrita Warring, wife of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, lags behind. BJP candidate and former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal trails at the third spot.
In Barnala, Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon won over BJP’s Kewal Singh Dhillon by a slim margin 2,157 votes. AAP candidate Harinder Singh Dhaliwal remains in third place, highlighting a close but controlled contest in this segment.
The Dera Baba Nanak constituency witnessed a neck-and-neck battle. AAP candidate Gurdeep Singh Randhawa won by a slim margin of 5,699 votes. His rival, Congress' Jatinder Kaur Randhawa, held the lead from the third to eighth rounds but has since slipped . Jatinder Kaur, the wife of Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, remains a strong contender as counting continues.
The bypolls, necessitated after sitting MLAs vacated their Assembly seats for Lok Sabha positions, were held on 20 November. As the results unfold, the battle reflects a high-stakes political test for Punjab's leading parties.
