The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has faced a setback with the announcement that former minister and four-term MLA Sohan Thandal has joined the BJP, just weeks before the bypolls for four Punjab Assembly seats on November 13. Thandal made the transition in the presence of former Gujarat Chief Minister and Punjab BJP in charge, Vijay Rupani.
Thandal is expected to be the BJP’s candidate for the Chabbewal (reserved) seat, which he previously held in the 2012 Assembly elections. His candidacy raises questions regarding whether SAD will participate in the bypolls, given the uncertainty surrounding its candidates. His joining strengthens BJP’s representation with a ‘panthic’ figure. Additionally, there are rumors that former Union Minister Vijay Sampla might also be a contender for the Chabbewal seat.
Thandal last ran for the Lok Sabha in 2024 from the Hoshiarpur constituency on an Akali Dal ticket but was unsuccessful. He had won in 2012 but faced defeats in the subsequent 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections.
The BJP recently announced three candidates for the upcoming bypolls, including ex-Minister Manpreet Badal, who will contest from Gidderbaha. Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon is set to run from Dera Baba Nanak and Kewal Singh Dhillon from Barnala. Badal previously served four terms from Gidderbaha with the Akali Dal before winning from Bathinda (Urban) in 2017 on a Congress ticket; however, he lost in the 2022 elections.
Meanwhile, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has put forth its candidates, including Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon from Gidderbaha, who recently transitioned from the Akali Dal. He was introduced to AAP by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Harinder Singh Dhaliwal and Gurdeep Singh Randhawa will contest from Barnala and Dera Baba Nanak, respectively, while Ishaan Chabbewal is the candidate for Chabbewal.
These four Assembly seats—three of which are currently held by Congress and one by AAP—became vacant following the election of their respective MLAs to the Lok Sabha. Congress has nominated Amrita Warring, wife of Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring; Jatinder Kaur, wife of Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa from Dera Baba Nanak; Ranjit Kumar from Chabbewal; and Kuldeep Singh Dhillon from Barnala.
Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer, Sibin C., announced that the deadline for filing nominations is October 25, with scrutiny scheduled for October 28 and withdrawal by October 30. There are a total of 6,96,316 registered voters across the four constituencies, each equipped with polling stations: Dera Baba Nanak (1,93,268 voters, 241 stations), Chabbewal (1,59,254 voters, 205 stations), Gidderbaha (1,66,489 voters, 173 stations), and Barnala (1,77,305 voters, 212 stations).