The Tarn Taran bypoll saw a sharp shift in momentum on Friday as AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu pushed ahead in the race. After eight rounds of counting, Sandhu collected 20,454 votes. His closest rival, Shiromani Akali Dal’s Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, stood at 16,786 votes. The Election Commission shared these updates as counting moved through the planned 16 rounds.
Randhawa started strong in the first three rounds and created early excitement in the SAD camp. Supporters cheered as she held the advantage, but Sandhu soon began closing the gap. He gained steady ground and then moved into a decisive lead. His rise marked a major turning point in the contest.
The bypoll gained importance after the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal in June. The seat attracted attention across Punjab because it reflected the region’s shifting political mood. Voters cast their ballots on November 11, and turnout reached 60.95 percent. The strong participation highlighted the public’s interest in the result.
As counting continued, the fight narrowed to AAP and SAD. Other candidates remained far behind as the contest shaped into a two-way race. Final rounds were expected to confirm whether Sandhu would retain his growing lead.
