The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged as the dominant force in the Punjab bypolls, winning three of the four contested assembly seats, while the Congress claimed a significant victory in Barnala. The results, declared on Saturday, reflect a boost for the ruling AAP in Punjab and a reaffirmation of its governance model under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Bypoll Results at a Glance

• AAP Victories:
  • Gidderbaha: Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon defeated Congress’ Amrita Warring by a margin of 21,969 votes.
  • Dera Baba Nanak: Gurdeep Singh Randhawa secured victory over Congress’ Jatinder Kaur with a margin of 5,699 votes.
  • Chabbewal (SC): Dr. Ishank Kumar Chabbewal defeated Congress’ Ranjit Kumar by a margin of 28,690 votes.
• Congress Victory:
  • Barnala: Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhillon defeated AAP’s Harinder Singh Dhaliwal by 2,157 votes.

Key Highlights of the Results

• Gidderbaha: AAP's Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon garnered 71,644 votes, while Congress’ Amrita Warring secured 49,675 votes. BJP’s Manpreet Singh Badal trailed far behind with 12,227 votes.
• Dera Baba Nanak: Gurdeep Singh Randhawa of AAP polled 59,104 votes, defeating Congress’ Jatinder Kaur, who secured 53,405 votes. BJP’s Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon received 6,505 votes.
• Chabbewal: AAP candidate Dr. Ishank Kumar Chabbewal won with 51,904 votes, leaving Congress’ Ranjit Kumar far behind at 23,214 votes. BJP’s Sohan Singh Thandal secured 8,692 votes.
• Barnala: Congress’ Kuldeep Singh Dhillon triumphed with 58,157 votes, defeating AAP’s Harinder Singh Dhaliwal by 2,157 votes.

Voter Turnout

The overall voter turnout stood at 63.91%, with the highest participation in Gidderbaha (81.90%) and the lowest in Chabbewal (53.43%).

Impact on Punjab's Political Landscape

The bypolls were necessitated after sitting legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. The results are significant for the AAP, which now holds 94 seats in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, consolidating its majority. The Congress, with this victory, increases its tally to 16 seats, while the BJP, with no wins, continues to struggle for relevance in Punjab.

Reactions from Key Leaders

• Bhagwant Mann (Chief Minister, Punjab): Celebrated the victory as a mandate for AAP’s governance and development agenda. “We are working tirelessly for Punjab's progress and will fulfill every promise made during the by-elections,” he stated in a post on X.
• Arvind Kejriwal (AAP National Convener): Hailed the results as a reflection of the public's faith in AAP’s ideology and governance.
• Congress Reaction: The Congress’ win in Barnala, previously considered an AAP stronghold, provided a morale boost for the party. Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring expressed pride in his wife, Amrita Warring, for a strong showing in Gidderbaha despite the defeat.

Challenges for the BJP

The BJP failed to secure any seats, with its candidates finishing in distant third positions. Three BJP candidates, including former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, lost their security deposits, underscoring the party’s struggle to gain traction in Punjab.

Looking Ahead

The bypoll results signal AAP's continued dominance in Punjab, but the Congress’ win in Barnala highlights its resilience. For the BJP, the challenge remains to rebuild its base in the state. The results also set the stage for upcoming elections, emphasizing the importance of local governance and development in voter preferences.