Before the by-elections in Punjab, the Bharatiya Janata Party has given a big blow to the Shiromani Akali Dal. Senior Akali Dal leader Sohan Singh Thandal has joined the BJP. Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani has got him inducted into the BJP. The party can field Sohan Thandal as a candidate from the Chabbewal seat.
He had contested the Lok Sabha elections from Hoshiarpur
In the Lok Sabha elections held this year, the Akali Dal had fielded Sohan Singh Thandal from the Hoshiarpur seat. But he had to face defeat against Rajkumar Chabbewal. If the BJP gives Sohan Singh Thandal a ticket from Chabbewal, then this time he will face Rajkumar Chabbewal's son Ishan Chabbewal and Congress' Ranjit Kumar. Sohan Singh Thandal has been an MLA from Mahilpur and Chabbewal assembly four times and has also been a minister in the Akali Dal government.
BJP has announced candidates for only 3 seats
For the by-elections to be held in Punjab, BJP has so far announced the names of its candidates on only 3 seats. BJP has fielded Manpreet Singh Badal from Gidderbaha, Kewal Singh Dhillon from Barnala and Ravikaran Singh Kahlon from Dera Baba Nanak. Now Sohan Singh Thandal may get a ticket from Chabbewal seat.
Congress has fielded these people on 4 seats
Congress has also announced the names of its candidates for the by-elections. Congress has fielded Jatinder Kaur from Dera Baba Nanak, Ranjit Kumar from Chabbewal, Kuldeep Singh Dhillon from Barnala seat and Amrita Vading, wife of President Amarinder Singh Raja Vading, on Gidderbaha seat.
AAP has also announced the names of candidates
Aam Aadmi Party has announced the names of candidates for the by-elections to be held on 4 seats in Punjab. The party has announced the names of Gurdeep Singh Randhawa from Dera Baba Nanak, Rajkumar Chabbewal's son Ishan Chabbewal from Chabbewal, Hardeep Singh Dhillon from Gidderbaha and Harinder Singh Randhawa from Barnala.
Voting will be held on 13th, results will come on 23rd
At the same time, the Election Commission has also announced the dates of by-elections. Voting will be held on 13 November on 4 seats in Punjab. After which the results will be announced on 23 November.
These seats became vacant due to Lok Sabha elections
Four assembly seats of Punjab fell vacant during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Barnala seat of Aam Aadmi Party cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has fallen vacant. At the same time, the Chabbewal seat of Hoshiarpur is vacant after Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal became an MP. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring from Gidderbaha and former Congress deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa from Dera Baba Nanak seat have also won the Lok Sabha elections. Elections are to be held on all these four seats.