Punjab by-poll : Writing on the wall is clear for the Congress party

While the national spotlight remains fixed on the party’s rout in Bihar, the Congress has suffered an equally alarming setback in Punjab a state where it has traditionally been viewed as the primary challenger and a strong contender for the 2027 Assembly election. The Tarn Taran by-poll result has delivered a message that the party cannot afford to ignore.

AP Retains Seat with a Commanding Lead

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured a decisive victory in Tarn Taran, with its candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu winning by a margin of 12,091 votes. Sandhu, who received 42,649 votes, has now been elected MLA from this constituency for the fourth time.

The seat had fallen vacant after the passing of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal, prompting the November 11 by-poll that saw 60.95% voter turnout, slightly lower than the 65.81% turnout in 2022.

Congress slips to fourth place, loses deposit

In an unprecedented setback, the Congress candidate not only lost but also failed to save the party’s deposit a symbolic indicator of voter rejection.

Congress, which had been positioning itself as Punjab’s main alternative to AAP, could manage only 15,078 votes, finishing a distant fourth.

The shock deepened as even the candidate of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), the faction associated with Amritpal Singh, outperformed Congress.

A warning signal ahead of 2027

For a state where Congress has historically remained a major political force, the Tarn Taran outcome raises pointed questions about organisational stability, voter outreach, and leadership clarity. The party had expected to emerge as the principal challenger to AAP in the next Assembly polls. Instead, the by-poll result shows that:

Congress is losing ground even in traditional strongholds,

Voters are not viewing it as a credible alternative at present, and

New players and splinter groups are gaining space at its expense.

This setback, coming alongside the heavy defeat in Bihar, suggests a deeper drift that requires urgent introspection.

Beyond Bihar: Punjab speaks too

Although the national conversation remains focused on Bihar, the political signal from Punjab is equally significant. A state that Congress hopes to reclaim has sent a clear message: the party’s revival cannot be assumed; it must be earned.

Tarn Taran’s verdict underscores a reality the Congress leadership will have to confront the path to 2027 is steep, and ignoring Punjab's warning could prove costlier than expected.