The Tarn Taran assembly seat in Punjab has fallen vacant following the death of AAP MLA Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal on June 27, 2025; the Speaker formally declared the vacancy on July 3, 2025, and a by‑election must now be held within six months of that date.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party moved quickly to shore up its prospects: on July 15, ex‑Shiromani Akali Dal three‑time MLA Harmeet Singh Sandhu officially joined AAP and is being widely touted as the party’s likely candidate. Meanwhile, internal contenders such as AAP Youth Wing leader Angdip Singh Sohal have also staked their claims, intensifying the scramble for the party ticket.
The BJP, which mustered just 1,176 votes here in 2022, has yet to name its candidate but has appointed former minister Surjit Kumar Jyani as in‑charge and co‑in‑charges K.D. Bhandari and Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon to oversee preparations.
On the opposition flank, the newly formed Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), led by jailed MP Amritpal Singh, has announced it will contest the seat; after Paramjit Kaur Khalra declined their initial offer, the party is now reportedly considering another panthic figure, Satwant Kaur, as its nominee.
The Congress, for its part, has not yet declared a candidate. With polling dates still to be set by the Election Commission, Tarn Taran is shaping up as a multi‑cornered fight that will test both governance and identity‑based appeals.
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