Nomination Process for Tarn Taran Bypoll to Begin on Monday: Punjab CEO

October 12, 2025

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C. announced on Sunday that the nomination process for the by-election to the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency will begin on Monday.

Key Election Dates Announced

According to the CEO, the last date for filing nominations is October 21, followed by scrutiny on October 22. Candidates may withdraw their nominations until October 24.

Polling will be held on November 11, and counting of votes will take place on November 14, he said. The polling hours have been fixed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Filing of Nominations

Nomination papers can be filed with the Returning Officer between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on any working day (except public holidays) from October 13 to 21.

The CEO clarified that October 18 is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, and therefore, nominations can be filed on that day. However, October 19 and 20 are holidays under the Act, and nomination papers cannot be presented on these dates.

He added that candidates must be registered voters of any constituency within Punjab and produce a certified copy of the relevant entry in the electoral roll. They must also take an oath or affirmation before the Returning Officer or an authorised officer after filing their nomination papers and before the date of scrutiny.

Bypoll Triggered by AAP MLA’s Death

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal, who had won the Tarn Taran seat in the last Assembly election with 52,935 votes, defeating Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu.

Candidates in the Fray

The ruling AAP government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has fielded Harmeet Singh Sandhu, a former Akali Dal leader who joined AAP earlier this year.

The main Opposition Congress has nominated Karanbir Singh Burj, a grassroots leader who serves as the Vice-President of the district Congress and has been active in the party’s Kisan Cell. Burj, an agriculturist and realtor by profession, is considered close to Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, has fielded Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa as its candidate.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has chosen Harjit Singh Sandhu to represent the party in the bypoll, with leaders expressing confidence in their prospects and highlighting the growing strength of the party’s cadre in Punjab.