Overview
- The Bharatiya Janata Party on August 14 named Harjit Singh Sandhu as its candidate in the Tarn Taran bypoll triggered by the June death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal.
- Sandhu joined the BJP in January 2022 and was appointed district president in December 2022 after serving in Youth Akali Dal leadership roles since 2007.
- Tarn Taran is a Panthic stronghold where the BJP polled just 1,176 votes in the 2022 assembly election, though Sandhu cites stronger party showings in recent local council contests.
- Shiromani Akali Dal has nominated Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa following its merger with the Azad Group while Congress and Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) have yet to name candidates.
- The early announcement of Sandhu marks a departure from the BJP’s previous practice of waiting until shortly before bypolls to declare candidates.