AAP Triumphs in Punjab Bypolls, Boosting CM Mann’s Influence
In a significant boost for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured victories in three out of four assembly constituencies in the recent bypolls. These wins have increased the party’s tally to 95 in Punjab’s 117-seat assembly, reaffirming Mann’s leadership and the party’s influence in the state.
AAP’s Performance and Leadership Dynamics
Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, aiming to showcase AAP’s performance in Punjab ahead of the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, had taken a more direct role in the Punjab government, sidelining Mann over the past few months. The central leadership’s dissatisfaction with the party’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections had put Mann under scrutiny. However, Saturday’s victory is expected to reassert Mann’s authority and bring him back into the spotlight.
The Congress managed to win only one seat, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost all four, with its candidates losing their security deposits on three. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chose not to participate in these elections due to an ongoing leadership crisis.
Reactions and Implications
State Congress president Pratap Singh Bajwa attributed AAP’s victory to SAD’s absence, while Union Minister Ravneet Bittu criticized the lack of active involvement from state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar for the party’s poor performance.
AAP won the Chabbewal, Dera Baba Nanak, and Gidderbaha seats, all previously held by the Congress in the 2022 assembly polls. The Congress secured the Barnala seat, which was formerly occupied by AAP.
Kejriwal, addressing a gathering in Delhi, credited the victory to the success of the “Delhi governance model” that had brought the party to power in 2013, 2015, and 2020. “We have won the semi-final match in Punjab. We are obviously doing something right in the state,” he said.
Mann attributed the victory to Kejriwal’s leadership, stating, “Had Kejriwal not started this movement from the Ramlila Maidan years ago, none of us would have been here. The party has always stood with the poor and the marginalized, and will continue to do so.”
Congress and BJP’s Setbacks
For the Congress, the results were unexpected, especially after their strong performance in the parliamentary elections, where they won seven of the 13 seats. The bypoll results indicate that the Congress will need a united and concerted effort to reclaim the state from AAP in 2027.
Punjab Congress chief and MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s wife, Amrita Warring, lost the byelection in Gidderbaha. This defeat, coupled with the Congress’s poor performance, may lead to a shake-up in the party’s leadership.
For the BJP, the bypoll verdict served as a reminder of the challenges it faces in making a significant impact in Punjab’s political landscape. The results are likely to trigger changes in the party’s leadership, with state chief Jakhar already offering to resign amid growing differences within the party.
Detailed Results of the Bypolls
In the keenly contested Gidderbaha seat, Amrita Warring lost to AAP’s Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon by a margin of 22,000 votes. BJP candidate and former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal came in third.
Dera Baba Nanak, a border seat in the Majha region, was won by AAP candidate Gurdeep Singh Randhawa, who defeated Congress nominee Jatinder Kaur by over 5,700 votes. BJP’s Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon managed to get barely 6,500 votes.
AAP also won the reserved Chabbewal seat, previously held by Dr. Raj Kumar Chhabewal, who had joined AAP ahead of the general election. His son Ishaank, also a medical doctor, won the seat, defeating Congress’s candidate Ranjit Kumar by a margin of over 28,600 votes. The BJP candidate Sohan Singh Thandal secured less than 10,000 votes.
Barnala saw a neck-and-neck contest, with Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhillon defeating AAP’s Harinder Singh Dhaliwal by a slim margin of a little over 2,000 votes. BJP candidate Kewal Singh Dhillon got almost 18,000 votes, while AAP rebel Gurdeep Singh Batth, who contested as an Independent, got almost 17,000 votes, playing spoilsport for AAP in the constituency.
Conclusion: AAP’s Strategic Victory
The bypoll results have reaffirmed AAP’s strength in Punjab and boosted CM Mann’s influence. The victories in three key constituencies highlight the party’s strategic success and set the stage for future political battles. For more insights, check out our article on Punjab Bypolls Result 2024 Highlights.
