By: Express News ServiceNovember 15, 2025 05:17 PM IST 4 min readView outside a counting centre for the Tarn Taran assembly by-election at Mai Bhago International College of Nursing, in Tarn Taran on Friday. (ANI Video Grab)The decisive victory of AAP’s Harmeet Singh Sandhu in Tarn Taran Assembly by-elections, results of which were declared on Friday, saw AAP pulling all stops in the constituency, campaigning intensively starting from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to Delhi leadership, Cabinet ministers and MLAs, amid allegations of “misuse of government machinery” in the run-up to the elections.Mann addressed at least seven functions and rallies in Tarn Taran before the elections. AAP national Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and state incharge Manish Sisodia also addressed rallies in the constituency in the run-up to elections.Sandhu romped home with 42,649 votes, defeating the nearest rival, Sukhwinder Kaur of Shiromani Akali Dal by a margin of 12,091 votes. She bagged 30,528 votes.From the earliest days of the campaign, AAP treated Tarn Taran less as a by-poll and more as a semi-final for 2027. The party’s central leadership and the state government left little to chance. National convener Arvind Kejriwal staked his reputation on the contest, surveying what in a war view would boost development in the neglected border region and strengthen the hands of Mann.Mann himself addressed multiple rallies, framing the election as a “truth vs deceit,” taking aim at traditional parties and casting AAP’s governance as decisive.MLAs and the party rank and file were mobilised for door-to-door outreach, village rallies and digital campaigns. The AAP had bet on Sandhu, a former SAD MLA in Sandhu, whose personal connect is also being believed to have worked in his favour.The party is satisfied with a margin of over 12,000 votes. Tarn Taran was vacated after the demise in June of AAP’s MLA, Kashmir Singh Sohal, and the contest was widely viewed as a litmus test for the ruling party’s popularity.With the win, AAP has now claimed six of the seven by-polls held in the state since it came to power in March 2022. The party’s victory is seen as a win over what allegations of “misuse of government machinery”.Story continues below this adThe SAD lodged a complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) alleging misuse of government machinery, including postings of favourable officers and threats to officials FIRs against opposition workers. The run up to the election saw Election Commission of India suspending the Tarn Taran SSP, Ravjot Kaur Grewal, just days ahead of polling. This was ordered following complaints that the police had been acting as a “polling agent” for the ruling party.The other controversy stirred by Punjab Congress Committee chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring following his remarks based on caste and colour against former Union Home Minister Buta Singh, who was considered the AAP in the constituency, has also triggered accusations. AAP inside to consolidate minority and marginalised community support. “The wedge thus helped sharpen the narrative in AAP’s favour. “If Raja Warring keeps at it, we will comfortably win the 2027 Assembly elections,” said AAP MLA Gurdev Singh Dev Mann adding that the victory was a reinforcement of the people’s vote on the Mann government.Despite the factors in AAP’s favour, the ruling party’s victory is not without challenges for the future. The SAD, the regional party, written off by all political parties in Punjab turned out strong, with Mandeep Singh Khalsa, of radical group bagging 9,705 votes. The Congress retained its third position with 12,801 votes.The people of Punjab have once again reposed their trust in the AAP. This victory is a victory for the people, for our hardworking volunteers, and for the entire leadership. We will fulfil every promise made to the residents of Tarn Taran during the by-election on a priority basis. Many congratulations to the residents of Tarn Taran on this victory.”Cabinet ministers Aman Arora, Barinder Goyal, Hardeep Mundian and election incharge of the constituency, Laljit Bhullar addressed the media jointly and said, “This election is a stamp on the work of Bhagwant Mann’s government. The voters are raising questions on the Congress party instead of dubbing the basic caste leader. The BJP too has deserted the Aam Aadmi Party. It is the people’s victory.”Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Punjab AAP