Tarn Taran Bypoll Concludes with Moderate Voter Participation
The high-stakes by-election for the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency concluded on Wednesday with a voter turnout of 60.95 percent, significantly lower than the 65.81 percent recorded during the 2022 Assembly polls. The polling, which began at 7 am and continued until 6 pm, unfolded under tight security arrangements with approximately 2,500 security personnel deployed across the constituency.
Security Measures and Political Allegations
Deputy Commissioner Rahul confirmed that the voting process remained largely peaceful despite heightened political tensions. The election authorities had identified around 100 sensitive polling booths, all of which were monitored through live webcasting and guarded by CRPF personnel. SSP Surinder Singh Lamba revealed that 12 companies of BSF were deployed, with 500 BSF jawans specifically assigned to polling stations to maintain order.
However, the day was marred by serious allegations from the Shiromani Akali Dal, which accused the local police of acting on instructions from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party to intimidate their voters and workers. The party specifically named SHO Gurcharan Singh and ASI Gurpreet Singh, alleging they manhandled party workers and arrested local leader Lovely Pradhan.
The Akali Dal shared video evidence of the incident on social media and announced plans to lodge a formal complaint with the Election Commission. Earlier in the day, the party had also claimed that police cleared their polling booth counters under the guise of security checks, then stationed forces nearby to intimidate party workers.
Candidates and Voter Participation
A total of 15 candidates are contesting the bypoll, which was necessitated following the demise of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June. The morning chill failed to deter voters, particularly elderly citizens, who queued up enthusiastically at polling stations.
Among the early voters were Congress candidate Karanbir Singh Burj and AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu. Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Sukwinder Kaur Randhawa cast her vote in Kaka Kandiala village during the afternoon, accompanied by her daughter Kanchanpreet Kaur.
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C provided detailed polling statistics: 11 percent voting was recorded in the first two hours (7 am to 9 am), which increased to 23.35 percent by 11 am, 36.62 percent at 1 pm, 48.84 percent at 3 pm, and 59.21 percent at 5 pm before reaching the final figure of 60.95 percent.
Political Significance and Key Contenders
The bypoll is being viewed as a crucial litmus test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and will indicate the popularity of the AAP government's policies among voters in this border constituency. The Congress has fielded Tarn Taran district unit chief Karanbir Singh Burj, an agriculturalist and real estate businessman contesting his first election.
The BJP, which nominated district unit president Harjit Singh Sandhu, managed to set up booths in nearly all villages—a positive development for the party that had faced mass boycotts earlier over the now-repealed agricultural laws.
Independent candidate Mandeep Singh, despite struggling to establish counters in all villages, hopes to secure considerable "silent votes." Mandeep Singh enjoys support from multiple factions including Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) led by jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, and several radical Sikh bodies.
The counting of votes will take place on November 14, determining who will represent this significant constituency in the Punjab Assembly.
