Chandigarh, Nov 8:
The political temperature in Punjab has risen sharply ahead of the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, scheduled for November 11, as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) traded accusations over alleged misuse of power and police intimidation.
The SAD, led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, accused the ruling AAP government of using state machinery to threaten its workers and suppress campaigning in the constituency. SAD leaders claimed that the local administration and police were acting under political pressure to favor AAP candidates.
Responding to the allegations, the AAP dismissed them as baseless and countered that the Akali Dal had lost public trust due to years of corruption and its alleged role in Punjab’s drug crisis. AAP leaders said the bypoll would serve as a “referendum on clean governance” and a test of the people’s rejection of old political systems.
Both parties have intensified campaigning in Tarn Taran, organizing door-to-door visits, roadshows, and religious outreach. The contest is being closely watched as a mini-referendum on AAP’s governance in Punjab and the revival prospects of the Akali Dal, which has struggled since its break with the BJP in 2020.
Political analysts say the bypoll outcome could shape Punjab’s political narrative ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. While AAP is focusing on its welfare schemes and anti-drug initiatives, the Akali Dal is attempting to reclaim its base among rural Sikh voters by emphasizing farmers’ issues and religious representation.
The Election Commission of India has directed the Punjab administration to ensure free and fair polling, with heightened security arrangements in sensitive areas of Tarn Taran.
The result of this bypoll is expected to send strong political signals across Punjab, determining whether the AAP’s popularity holds or the SAD manages a comeback in one of its former strongholds.
