Punjab Byelections 2024, Punjab Bypolls 2024, BJP Candidates Punjab Byelections 2024: After the Panchayat Polls, Punjab is all set to witness byelections in 4 constituencies of the state. The voting for Punjab Byelections 2024 will take place on November 20, 2024. After the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, four MLAs of Punjab have become MPs and hence, the four constituencies do not have any MLAs to represent the people in the state assembly. To fill the void, the Election Commission of India has announced byelections in four constituencies of Punjab. The four constituencies that will undergo polls are- Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, and Barnala. With the voting day coming near, political parties have announced their candidates. BJP which is trying hard to regain its foothold in Punjab is banking big on its four candidates who are interestingly turncoats.
Earlier, the Punjab Byelection was supposed to take place on November 13. But, due to Guru Purab, the ECI shifted its date to November 20, 2024. Like the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the BJP is fighting elections without any alliance. It will be the third time when the BJP will fight an election without an alliance with SAD in Punjab. Vidhan Sabha Polls, Lok Sabha Polls, and this time as well, BJP will fight the election on its own. But, the interesting fact in this by-election is that all the candidates on whom the BJP is banking are turncoats. Know the BJP candidates fighting Punjab Byelection 2024-
1) Gidderbaha constituency
Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Punjab Congress Chief, was an MLA from Gidderbaha. However, after he won the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Ludhiana, the Gidderbaha constituency has no MLA. BJP has fielded former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal from the Gidderbaha assembly seat. Manpreet Badal had been elected from Gidderbaha on Shiromani Akali Dal's ticket four times -- in 1995, 1997, 2002, and 2007. Manpreet Badal was initially in SAD, then he formed his own party, then he shifted to Congress, and finally his current loyalty lies with the Saffron party.
2) Dera Baba Nanak constituency
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was an MLA from Dera Baba Nanak, however, after winning the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Gurdaspur. Hence, the Dera Baba Nanak constituency does not have any MLA currently. Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon will contest from Dera Baba Nanak on a BJP ticket. Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon fought the last Vidhan Sabha elections on SAD's ticket
3) Barnala Constituency
Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer was an MLA from Barnala but he also won Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Sangrur constituency. Hence, Barnala also has no MLA as of now. The BJP has named former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon from the Barnala constituency. Dhillon had unsuccessfully contested the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-polls in 2022 on a BJP ticket. Kewal Singh Dhillon has been a former Congress MLA. Hence, Kewal Singh Dhillon also comes under the turncoat category.
4) Chabbewal Constituency
Raj Kumar Chabbewal was MLA from Chabbewal but after winning the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Hoshiarpur, he became an MP. Hence, Chabbewal has no MLA as well. BJP has fielded Sardar Sohan Singh Thandal from the Chabbewal Constituency in Punjab. Sardar Sohan Singh Thandal has been a member of Shromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the past and also a Minister during their rule.
Therefore, none of the candidates representing the saffron party are originally from the BJP cadre. Interestingly, Punjab BJP Chief is Sunil Jakhar who is also a turncoat. Jakhar is a former Congress leader and former Punjab Congress Chief. However, Jakhar is not active for the BJP for the upcoming Punjab Byelections 2024. MoS Ravneet Bittu was also with Congress but he fought Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from the BJP ticket. Despite losing from the Ludhiana constituency, Ravneet Bittu was awarded Minister of State under the Modi 3.0 rule.