Punjab Polls: Just One AAP Cabinet Minister Clinches Lok Sabha Seat

In a surprising turn of events during the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a significant setback as only one out of the five Cabinet ministers fielded managed to secure a victory. This outcome sets the stage for by-elections in four assembly segments within the state. Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, the sports minister in the Bhagwant Mann government and an MLA from Barnala, emerged victorious in the Sangrur parliamentary seat, defeating Simranjit Singh Mann of SAD Amritsar.

The AAP had high hopes, fielding eight sitting MLAs for the Lok Sabha elections, including five Cabinet ministers: Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Amritsar, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Khadoor Sahib, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian from Bathinda, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur, and Balbir Singh from Patiala. However, only Hayer could celebrate a win among them.

Meanwhile, the Congress party saw a better outcome with Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa winning the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring securing Ludhiana. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, who switched allegiance from Congress to AAP before the polls, won from Hoshiarpur. These victories necessitate by-elections in four assembly segments due to the elected MPs vacating their MLA positions.

The Congress party emerged as a significant force in Punjab's Lok Sabha elections, winning seven out of thirteen constituencies. This result was a considerable blow to AAP, BJP, and SAD. Notably, two Independents also made their way into Parliament, including jailed radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh.

Despite high expectations, AAP could only manage to secure three seats. The Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won a single seat, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to open its account in the border state. The election results have reshaped the political landscape in Punjab, leading to an intriguing scenario for the upcoming by-elections.