Ludhiana (National Times): The battle for Ludhiana West, one of Punjab’s most politically sensitive and urban constituencies, has begun, with voting officially underway in what is seen as a mini-referendum on AAP’s state leadership.
A total of 1.74 lakh voters are casting their ballots today to elect a new MLA in a contest dominated by big names and new faces. The by-election was necessitated by the untimely demise of AAP legislator Gurpreet Gogi earlier this year.
While the constituency has historically swayed between Congress and the Akali Dal, this time the dynamics are more complex—with AAP fighting to retain its seat, the Congress attempting to reclaim lost ground, and the BJP emerging as a serious challenger after a strong performance in the 2024 general elections.
Arora’s Riches, Ashu’s Past, BJP’s Ambition
Sanjeev Arora, AAP’s candidate and a Rajya Sabha MP, enters the race amid criticism for being parachuted into Ludhiana’s local politics. Opposition parties have accused AAP of prioritizing wealth over grassroots leadership. Arora’s estimated net worth has drawn intense scrutiny and added fuel to accusations of elitism.
On the other hand, Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu is banking on familiarity and past loyalty despite facing criticism over his tenure and his previous arrest in a corruption case, from which he was later cleared by the courts.
The BJP’s Jiwan Gupta is positioning himself as the “people’s candidate,” banking on the momentum the party gained in Ludhiana during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Issues Ignored Amid Slogans and Slander
Despite Ludhiana’s growing concerns—from pollution and stray dog menace to traffic chaos and vanishing green cover—much of the campaigning fixated on personality traits and mudslinging. AAP’s slogan, “Na gussa, na ahankaar – Sanjeev Arora iss vaar” (No anger, no arrogance – Sanjeev Arora this time), exemplified the tone of the discourse.
Political analysts say the result of this bypoll could influence narratives for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. AAP’s top brass, including CM Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, took the campaign seriously, hitting the ground as early as March.
Tight Race Expected
As polling continues, observers predict a close finish. With widespread dissatisfaction among voters, internal rifts in Congress, and AAP under scrutiny, the result is far from predictable.
Counting of votes will take place on June 23.
