Aam Aadmi Party’s sitting MLA from Tarn Taran Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, passed away on Thursday morning in Amritsar after a prolonged battle with esophageal cancer. He was 62. A retired government doctor and a first-time legislator, Dr Sohal had carved a niche for himself through his unwavering commitment to rural healthcare and educational reforms in the border belt of Punjab.
His death not only marked a personal tragedy for his family and constituents but also pushed AAP into yet another electoral contest. Since the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP Government assumed office in March 2022, this will be the seventh assembly by-election in the state — a trend that’s beginning to test the party’s resilience and grassroots connect.
Dr Sohal breathed his last at Fortis Hospital in Amritsar around 11 am. A respected ophthalmologist, his medical career began in 1986 at a time when Punjab was gripped by militancy. He served at Miyanvind and later at Tarn Taran Civil Hospital, earning respect for his service under challenging conditions. Post his retirement in 2013 as Senior Medical Officer, Dr Sohal transitioned to activism — fighting for district status for Tarn Taran and leading parents’ protests against arbitrary school fees — before formally joining AAP in 2014.
In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, AAP fielded him from Tarn Taran, where he triumphed over SAD’s seasoned leader Harmeet Singh Sandhu by a margin of 13,588 votes. His work as an MLA reflected his ethos as a doctor—focused, people-oriented, and sincere. He is survived by his wife and two children, both of whom are doctors.
Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed grief, calling Dr Sohal “a hardworking and committed leader” and offering condolences to his family. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal termed the news “deeply saddening”, while Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha hailed him as “an honest leader respected beyond political boundaries.”
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, condoling his demise, called him a hardworking, dedicated, and helpful leader who rendered exemplary service to his party and constituency. Punjab Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra also mourned the loss, calling his demise “untimely and heartbreaking.”
With his passing, the Tarn Taran seat — falling under the politically sensitive Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency — is now vacant. The Election Commission is expected to announce the bypoll within the mandated six-month period. Given the constituency’s strategic importance and AAP’s recent electoral form, the upcoming contest will be closely watched.
Since 2022, AAP has faced six bypolls and won five. The most recent was in Ludhiana West on June 19, where AAP’s Sanjeev Arora retained the seat following the demise of MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. Prior to that, the party scored a massive win in Jalandhar West after MLA Sheetal Angural defected to the BJP, and won three out of four seats in the November 2024 by-elections necessitated by MLAs moving to the Lok Sabha. Congress managed to bag only Barnala.
AAP may also face another by-election in Banga, following SAD MLA Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi’s switch to the party.