The counting of votes for Punjab Byelections 2024 is almost done and AAP is all set for a landslide victory. While AAP is all set to sweep 3 out of 4 constituencies, Congress has won Barnala Byelections 2024. However, the BJP has suffered a major dent in the Punjab Bypolls 2024 as the saffron party has not performed well in it.
Leave good performance, BJP has not been able to be at number 2 in the Punjab Byelections 2024 in any of the constituencies. The four constituencies that underwent polls are- Dera Baba Nanak, Gidderbha, Chabbewal, and Barnala. In Gidderbaha, former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, despite his association with the Badal family’s legacy, finished third. In Barnala, former two-time MLA Kewal Dhillon also ended up in third place. The party’s performance was equally dismal in Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal, where it fell far behind its rivals.
BJP's strategy to field turncoats fail
BJP fielded former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal from the Gidderbaha assembly seat. Manpreet Badal had been elected from Gidderbaha on Shiromani Akali Dal's ticket four times -- in 1995, 1997, 2002, and 2007. Manpreet Badal was initially in SAD, then he formed his own party, then he shifted to Congress, and finally his current loyalty lies with the Saffron party.
Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon fought the byelections from Dera Baba Nanak on a BJP ticket. Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon fought the last Vidhan Sabha elections on SAD's ticket.
BJP named former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon from the Barnala constituency. Dhillon had unsuccessfully contested the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-polls in 2022 on a BJP ticket. Kewal Singh Dhillon has been a former Congress MLA. Hence, Kewal Singh Dhillon also comes under the turncoat category.
BJP fielded Sardar Sohan Singh Thandal from the Chabbewal Constituency in Punjab. Sardar Sohan Singh Thandal has been a member of Shromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the past and also a Minister during their rule. However, he too failed in Punjab Byelections 2024.