Tarn Taran (Punjab): Polling for the by-election in Assembly Constituency 021-Tarn Taran began at 7 AM on Monday and will continue until 6 PM. The Election Commission of India has put in place stringent arrangements to ensure a transparent and peaceful voting process. Voters have begun reaching polling stations steadily since morning.
Early Voting Trends and Candidate Activity
By 9 AM, the constituency had recorded approximately 11 percent voter turnout. Congress candidate Karanbir Singh Burj cast his vote early in the day and expressed confidence in securing victory. Similarly, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) candidate Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa also exercised her franchise, accompanied by her daughter Kanchanpreet Kaur.
Voter Profile and Election Setup
The Tarn Taran constituency has a total of 1,92,838 registered voters, which includes:
- 1,00,933 male voters
- 91,897 female voters
- 8 third-gender voters
- 1,357 service voters
- 1,657 voters aged above 85
- 306 NRI voters
- 1,488 specially-abled voters
Additionally, there are 3,333 young voters in the 18–19 age group. A total of 15 candidates are contesting the by-election, including nominees from major and registered political parties, as well as several independent candidates.
Key Candidates in the Fray
Five prominent candidates are drawing the most attention:
- Harmeet Singh Sandhu (Aam Aadmi Party)
- Karanbir Singh Burj (Indian National Congress)
- Harjeet Singh Sandhu (Bharatiya Janata Party)
- Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa (Shiromani Akali Dal – Badal)
- Mandeep Singh (Independent, associated with Waris Punjab De)
The by-election was necessitated due to the demise of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Dr. Kashmir Singh, leaving the seat vacant. The result of this poll is expected to send significant political signals ahead of upcoming state-level political alignments.
Live updates from polling booths indicate a largely peaceful environment, with security personnel deployed across the constituency to maintain order. The voter turnout is expected to rise as the day progresses.
