The Jalandhar West assembly bypoll in Punjab is being seen as a crucial test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after their recent Lok Sabha poll defeat. The seat has attracted a multi-cornered fight between AAP, Congress, and BJP, with 15 candidates vying for the seat.
The bypoll was necessitated after Sheetal Angural resigned as an AAP legislator. The seat has a total of 1.72 lakh eligible voters, and the votes will be counted on July 13, followed by by-polls on July 10.
The AAP has fielded Mohinder Bhagat, the son of former minister and BJP MLA Bhagat Chunni Lal, who had joined the party after quitting the BJP last year.
The Congress has placed its bet on Surinder Kaur, a former senior deputy mayor and five-time municipal councillor in Jalandhar, who belongs to the Ravidassia community.
The BJP has fielded Angural, who switched sides in March after quitting the AAP.
Though the Shiromani Akali Dal had fielded Surjit Kaur for the bypoll, the Sukhbir Badal-led outfit later withdrew its support and disowned her. SAD had also announced to support Bahujan Samaj Party nominee Binder Kumar for the bypoll. However, a section of SAD leaders, who revolted against Badal, is supporting Kaur in the bypoll.
The bypoll is significant for Mann, who has extensively campaigned for Bhagat, highlighting his government's achievements, including free electricity and mohalla clinics.
Attacking BJP candidate Angural, Mann had accused him of betraying voters of the Jalandhar West assembly segment.
"Nowadays BJP is the first choice of corrupt leaders," Mann had alleged.
Besides CM Mann, his wife Gurpreet Kaur also canvassed for the AAP nominee to seek votes. Most of the AAP MLAs and ministers and three MPs remained present in the assembly segment to campaign in favour of Bhagat.
The result will impact the prestige of all three major parties in Punjab.
The AAP is keen to win the seat to regain momentum after its poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls, while the Congress is seeking to build on its recent successes. The BJP is also eager to emerge victorious after drawing a blank in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The bypoll has seen intense campaigning, with top leaders from all parties canvassing for their candidates.
During the campaign, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi, and other senior party leaders, including MPs, canvassed for Kaur and targeted the AAP government over many issues, including drug menace and law and order.
Bajwa had said the AAP would face a "humiliating defeat" in the bypoll.
"Had the AAP government performed well in its 2.5 years of the regime, it would not have to put so much effort into convincing the voters of the Jalandhar West assembly segment. It establishes that the AAP government has failed miserably to work in the state and fulfill its guarantees", Bajwa had said.
Follow us
