Punjab politics has been on a buzz for the past few months. The latest buzz is that Punjab may undergo 3 by-elections in the upcoming months. The Ludhiana West By-election was recently concluded with AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora winning the poll. Following his victory, Arvind Kejriwal's promise to make Arora a Minister in the Punjab Government was fulfilled. On July 3, Sanjeev Arora took oath as Punjab Cabinet Minister.
Sanjeev Arora has been entrusted with the important departments of Industry & Commerce, Investment Promotion, and NRI Affairs. Now, sources suggest that jailed MP from Khadoor Sahib- Amritpal Singh's father or mother may contest the by-election from the Tarn Taran assembly seat, which fell vacant due to the death of the sitting MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal. The constituency is a rural, Panthic-dominated area, and any move by Amritpal's family to contest could polarize voters, a pattern also observed during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
While AAP secured a victory in the Ludhiana West bypoll and inducted the winning MLA into the cabinet, the party may face difficulties in wooing rural and panthic voters. Tarn Taran is a sensitive seat in this regard, and AAP is reportedly in search of a candidate with strong Panthic appeal to counter potential voter shifts.
More on the potential by-election in Punjab
Two more seats, Banga and Jalandhar Central, are under the spotlight for possible by-elections. In Banga, MLA Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, who defected from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to AAP, continues to hold his position without formally resigning.
For the unversd, Banga MLA Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi, who is facing a disqualification plea for defecting from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been called by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker for a hearing on July 29. Sukhi, the two-time MLA, who switched from the SAD to the AAP in August last year, will be given a chance to “present his side”.
In case a byelection is being from called from Banga, there is buzz that AAP may offer him a ticket, especially with SAD appearing weakened post the arrest of senior leader Bikram Majithia.
Banga MLA Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi, who is facing a disqualification plea for defecting from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been called by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker for a hearing on July 29.
In Jalandhar Central, MLA Raman Arora is currently lodged in Nabha jail following his arrest in a corruption case. While no official resignation has been announced, sources say he may soon step down.