Tarn Taran: Polling for the crucial Tarn Taran Assembly by-election in Punjab began early Tuesday under heavy security arrangements, marking a key political test for all major parties ahead of the 2027 state polls.
Voting commenced at 7 a.m. and will continue until 6 p.m., officials confirmed. The bypoll was necessitated following the passing of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal earlier this year in June.
The election has turned into a high-stakes, multi-cornered contest, with the AAP striving to retain its seat while the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) look to regain lost ground in Punjab’s politically volatile border district.
According to election authorities, a total of 1,92,838 voters are eligible to cast their ballots — including 1,00,933 men, 91,897 women, and eight third-gender electors. The Election Commission has set up 222 polling booths across 114 locations, comprising 60 urban and 162 rural stations. Among these, four have been designated as ‘model booths’ and three as ‘pink booths’ to encourage greater participation of women voters.
Tight security measures have been implemented to ensure peaceful voting, with state police and paramilitary forces deployed throughout the constituency.
Political observers see the by-election as a critical indicator of shifting voter sentiment in Punjab. While the AAP hopes to consolidate its rural support base and prove its governance credentials, the Congress aims to stage a comeback after suffering setbacks in recent elections. The BJP, which has been attempting to expand its footprint in the state post its split with the Shiromani Akali Dal, views this election as an opportunity to test its growing influence.
Local issues such as agricultural distress, drug abuse, and unemployment are dominating voter conversations, with each party pledging renewed focus on development and youth empowerment.
Counting of votes will take place on November 14, and the results are expected to signal the direction of Punjab’s political mood ahead of the next Assembly polls.
As voters continue to line up outside polling stations across Tarn Taran, all eyes are now on which party will emerge stronger in this crucial mid-term electoral battle.
