Jailed Khalistan-supporting MP Amritpal Singh is set to enter Punjab’s assembly politics through the upcoming bypoll in Tarntaran. Despite being lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act (NSA), Amritpal’s political outfit, Waris Punjab De, has declared that it will contest the Tarntaran by-election, marking a dramatic new phase in Punjab’s volatile political landscape.
This bypoll was triggered by the death of sitting AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal on June 27. While the Election Commission has yet to formally announce the poll schedule, political alignments are already shifting in anticipation.
A Symbolic and Strategic Move by Waris Punjab De
This constituency falls under the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat — the very seat from which Amritpal Singh won as an independent MP in 2024 with a record margin, all while being incarcerated. According to his father, Tarsem Singh, this bypoll is crucial for their party’s grassroots expansion:
“This assembly segment gave Amritpal the highest votes. Naturally, we will contest from here. The candidate will be announced soon.”
The decision signals Waris Punjab De’s entry into legislative politics, and political analysts see this as more than symbolic — it’s a direct challenge to AAP, Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal in a seat heavily influenced by Sikh religious sentiments.
Why Amritpal’s Party Has an Edge
There are two key reasons why Waris Punjab De enters this race as a formidable force:
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Record Win from Jail:
Amritpal Singh’s Lok Sabha victory from jail — without a formal campaign, political machinery, or cadre — was unprecedented. He secured over 1.79 lakh votes, the highest victory margin across Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha seats in 2024. -
Dominance in Tarntaran Assembly Segment:
During the 2024 general elections, Amritpal secured 40.79% votes (44,703 votes) in the Tarntaran assembly segment — more than double the votes secured by Congress (20,193) and AAP (18,298). Notably, AAP’s candidate was sitting cabinet minister Laljit Bhullar, who finished a distant third.
A Direct Threat to Akali Dal’s Core Base
For the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), this bypoll poses an existential challenge. The party, once synonymous with Panthic (Sikh-centered) politics in Punjab, has seen electoral decline since 2022 — reduced to just three assembly seats. Of these, one MLA has defected to AAP, and another is reportedly disgruntled.
Amritpal’s party echoes SAD’s traditional Panthic messaging — focusing on Sikh issues, sacrilege, and justice. With lingering public anger over incidents like the Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege and unaddressed police firing cases, many disillusioned Sikh voters may view Waris Punjab De as a credible alternative.
Implications for Major Political Parties
AAP (Aam Aadmi Party):
After winning 92 of 117 seats in 2022, AAP’s grip on Punjab has weakened slightly due to governance challenges and rural dissatisfaction. While it won recent bypolls in Jalandhar and Ludhiana, Amritpal was not a contender in those battles. If AAP fails to win Tarntaran, it could validate the rise of a new Panthic force and signal erosion in AAP’s rural base.
Congress:
Despite being the main opposition, Congress is struggling with internal factionalism. The party’s debacle in Ludhiana bypolls highlighted growing disunity — with top leaders like Raja Warring and Sukhjinder Randhawa not even coordinating on campaign matters. If Congress fails to perform in Tarntaran, it may further diminish its relevance ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD):
Tarntaran, a Sikh-majority seat, offers SAD a chance to reclaim its core base. A victory could signal revival; a defeat might seal its downfall. Given that Hindu votes are less influential here compared to Jalandhar or Ludhiana, SAD’s ability to win would rest solely on its Panthic appeal — now being actively challenged by Waris Punjab De.
Waris Punjab De (Amritpal’s Party):
This by-election could serve as a semi-final for 2027. A win would establish Waris Punjab De as the new face of Sikh religious politics, pushing Akali Dal further to the margins and posing a potent threat to AAP and Congress. A loss, however, could reinforce the perception that Amritpal’s Lok Sabha win was sympathy-driven post-arrest and not necessarily reflective of broad-based support.
A Semi-Final for 2027: Punjab’s Political Realignment Begins
Tarntaran bypoll will not just fill a legislative vacancy — it will be a referendum on Amritpal Singh’s political future, AAP’s governance, Congress’s unity, and SAD’s relevance. For voters, it offers the first opportunity to assess Waris Punjab De’s ambitions beyond symbolism.
If Waris Punjab De manages to retain or expand Amritpal’s Lok Sabha vote base, it could reshape the contours of Panthic politics and revive religious identity-based mobilization — reminiscent of pre-2000s Akali dominance.
For now, all eyes remain on the Election Commission’s notification. The contest promises to be more than a local bypoll — it could be the beginning of a new political era in Punjab.
