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Punjab bypolls test for SAD, Cong; AAP eyes Assembly debut
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Voting in Patiala, Talwandi Sabo today Arrangements are in place for the byelections to the two Assembly segments in Punjab Security has been tightened in both segments to ensure free and fair polling

Chandigarh, August 20
The byelections to Patiala and Talwandi Sabo Assembly segments are a test for both the ruling SAD-BJP regime and Opposition Congress.

The SAD leadership has been trying hard to gain the lost ground after not performing up to the mark in the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress, on the other hand, has been politically struggling after losing the Assembly elections and faring poorly in the parliamentary polls.

The bypolls are also important for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is testing its popularity after a good show in the Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress has fielded former Union Minister Preneet Kaur from Patiala. She will be taking on SAD's Bhagwan Dass Juneja and AAP's Harjit Singh Adaltiwala. In Talwandi Sabo, the SAD has put up Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu against Congress' Harminder Singh Jassi. The AAP has fielded Baljinder Kaur.

The Akalis were confident of performing well in the Lok Sabha elections. Their performance, however, was far from satisfactory as the party managed to win only four seats while its ally, the BJP, won two seats. AAP bagged four seats and the Congress three.

The bypoll results will determine whether the SAD has regained the trust of people or not.

For the Congress, these elections are vital after a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls. Win on both seats will give the Congress a much-needed confidence and help it to realign its strategy.

AAP, on its part, is eyeing an Assembly debut. The fledgling party also hopes to improve its vote percentage after performing well in the Lok Sabha elections.