AAP Prepares for Another Bypoll Battle in Punjab

Punjab : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is gearing up for another crucial by-election in Punjab, and if insiders are to be believed, the party is once again leaning toward a tried-and-tested formula: fielding a candidate who has recently switched sides from another political party. This strategy, which proved successful in both Jalandhar and Gidderbaha, could be repeated as AAP aims to strengthen its hold across key constituencies in the state.

While the party has not officially announced the candidate or the constituency yet, sources suggest that talks are underway with a well-known political figure from a rival party, who is expected to bring both vote bank and local credibility. The approach of tapping into the influence of established leaders from other parties has helped AAP in recent bypolls, where the party managed to win Jalandhar and Gidderbaha—two significant constituencies once considered strongholds of other major parties.

A senior AAP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We are confident in our model of inclusive politics. If someone from another party shares our vision for Punjab, we welcome them.” This hints at the party’s growing confidence in its adaptability and its ability to absorb influential leaders while maintaining its core messaging of clean and development-oriented governance.

In Jalandhar, AAP had won by fielding a candidate who previously had affiliations with another major party, leveraging both their personal popularity and AAP’s development agenda. Similarly, in Gidderbaha, the strategy paid off again, consolidating AAP’s rural presence and reducing the margin of opposition dominance.

Political analysts believe this method may be AAP’s best bet in regions where local leaders have stronger influence than party symbols. “Voter loyalty in by-elections can shift if the candidate has a personal connection with the constituency. AAP is capitalizing on that,” said a Chandigarh-based political commentator.

The move is also seen as a direct challenge to Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, who are already reeling under internal friction and lack of strong local candidates in several areas.

As Punjab watches closely, all eyes are now on AAP’s next big announcement. Will this familiar playbook bring yet another win? If past results are any indication, the party seems well-positioned to make further electoral gains.