Punjab Assembly Bypolls: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday released its candidate list for the upcoming byelection on four Assembly seats in Punjab. The party fielded Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) turncoat Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon from Gidderbaha, while AAP leader Harinder Singh Dhaliwal will contest from Barnala and Gurdeep Singh Randhawa from the Dera Baba Nanak seat. From the Chabbewat seat, AAP fielded Ishaan Chabbewal.
Bypolls to four assembly seats -- Dera Baba Nanak, Barnala, Chabbewal (SC) and Gidderbaha -- will be held on November 13 and votes will be counted on November 23.
AAP's Gidderbaha candidate Dhillon recently quit SAD to join AAP. He was brought into the party fold by convener and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Dhaliwal, who is AAP's pick from Barnala is reportedly a close confidant of Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. Hayer's election to Lok Sabha has led to the Barnala Assembly seat falling vacant.
Meanwhile, Randhawa, who got the ticket from Dera Baba Nanak, is AAP's in-charge of the constituency.
AAP's Chabbewal candidate Ishaan is the son of Hoshiarpur MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal. The seat fell vacant after the then Congress MLA, Chabbewal, switched over to AAP to contest and won the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat.
In other news, Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa has written to the Election Commission, urging it to consider postponing the November 13 assembly bypolls in Punjab in view of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on November 15.
The celebrations extend over three days and will start on November 13. This may affect the voter turnout, the leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly said.
"As the nation is aware, Punjab is preparing to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the revered founder of Sikhism, on November 15. This auspicious occasion holds deep significance not only for the Sikh community but also for Hindus and other faith groups, who hold Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the highest regard for his universal message of peace, equality, and spiritual enlightenment," Bajwa said.
The celebrations extend over three days, beginning with the 'Akhand Path' (continuous recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib) on November 13.
"These sacred ceremonies, organised in thousands of gurdwaras across the state and nation, draw large crowds and significant community participation. Families also conduct similar observances in their homes, leading to widespread involvement in religious and spiritual activities. Naturally, this intense engagement in religious rituals may impact voter turnout and engagement in the electoral process," he added.