Countdown for Jalandhar By-Elections 2023 has begun with political parties campaigning to woo voters. For the past 10 days, political parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, BJP, and SAD-BSP alliance have been busy campaigning for the lone Jalandhar seat which is considered to be a Congress stronghold. On April 5, former Congress MLA Sushil Rinku joined AAP and the very next day he was announced as the candidate for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. Congress has declared Karamjit Kaur as its official candidate for the upcoming By-polls. Karamjit Kaur is the wife of the late Santokh Singh Chaudhary who was previously the MP of Jalandhar constituency from 2014. Notably, it was the death of MP Chaudhary during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra which opened doors for the Jalandhar By-Election 2023. BJP announced Inder Atwal, former SAD leader as its candidate, while the alliance of SAD-BSP announced two-time MLA Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi as its candidate.
Jalandhar By-Polls 2023 will be held on May 10 and counting of votes will be done on May 13. But for each political party, this election holds a different but equally powerful significance.
Revival for AAP: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann along with many major AAP leaders have already conducted political campaigns, including road shows, in Jalandhar. Post its historic win, AAP faced a major setback during the Sangrur Lok Sabha Byelection when Simranjit Singh Mann from Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) won the elections. With the Jalandhar-By Election coming up, it will be an optimal opportunity for AAP to prove that winning the Punjab Election in record numbers was not a fluke. As mentioned above, AAP has fielded former Congress MLA Sushik Rinku for the Jalandhar Bypolls and for that, Harpal Cheema has been made in charge to oversee the campaigns and functioning of the party during Jalandhar Bypolls. And if AAP hopes to stand a chance in the General Elections 2024, it is critical that they win these elections.
Comeback for Congress: After a disappointing loss during the Punjab Assembly Elections and amidst an ongoing debate that the Grand Old Party is losing its relevance in Indian Politics, winning the Jalandhar Byelections 2023 will mark its comeback. Like mentioned above, Jalandhar constituency is a stronghold for Congress, and therefore Congress won't be keen to lose its footprint in the region, especially with the 2024 General Election in the backdrop. LoP Pratap Singh Bajwa, former Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu, MLA Pargat Singh, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, and PPCC President Raja Warring have united in order to push for Congress victory in the upcoming Jalandhar byelection. If Congress manages to keep its stronghold and win the Jalandhar byelection, then it will be a great boost for the party's morale especially since the 2024 Lok Sabha Election is on its way.
Survival for SAD: Shironmani Akali Dal and BSP have joined hands to contest the Jalandhar Bypolls 2023. Having lost the state Assembly Election miserably, the upcoming by polls is a question of survival for SAD. SAD-BSP has announced two-time MLA Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi as its candidate for the upcoming Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-poll. It is said that Dr. Sukhi is known for his clean image and has an influence in the medical fraternity, but being an outsider, he is currently facing some hurdles. If SAD manages to win the Jalandhar Bypolls, then a crystal clear message will be sent that the Akali Dal has not lost its Midas touch from the Punjab Politics.
Punjab government offices' timing changed to 7:30 am; CM Mann among first to arrive
National Touchdown for BJP: Jalandhar Bypolls could be the 'semi-finals' for BJP before it heads to the ultimate 2024 General Elections. BJP has appointed former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani as the person responsible for campaigns, election strategy, and more. For the last 15 days, Vijay Rupani has been in Jalandhar. The saffron party has nominated Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, former SAD leader as its candidate. Notably, Inder Atwal is the son of Lok Sabha's former Deputy Speaker Charanjit Atwal who reportedly belongs to the Mazhabi Sikh Community. Mazhabi Sikh Community holds the key to Jalandhar Bypolls along with Ravidas Community and Charanjit Atwal is known for his influence in the Atwal community. Therefore, the BJP is expecting to woo the Mazhabi Sikh community vote bank. Furthermore, in the last election, Charanjit Atwal gave tough competition to Santokh Singh, therefore the BJP thinks it might succeed in cutting the vote bank of the SAD-BSP alliance.
According to a recent poll conducted by True Scoop, AAP is going to be the likely winner in the upcoming By-elections with Sushil Rinku leading the race with 45% votes.
While each party is chasing victory, only one party will emerge as the clear winner. Results of Jalandhar By Election are likely to impact the political scenario of the state and have spillover effects on the country’s political landscape as well.