Did AAP Successfully Retain Ludhiana (West) in the Bypolls?

Chandigarh, June 23 (NationPress) The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of the state, capitalizing on its commitment to development and people-centric policies over the last three years, successfully held onto the Ludhiana (West) Assembly seat on Monday, despite a low voter turnout of 51.33%, a decrease from the 64% seen in the 2022 Assembly elections.

Key opposition forces, including Congress, BJP, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), have entered the electoral contest with the rallying cry of "badlaav (change)" as they prepare for the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections.

AAP’s Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, Sanjeev Arora, who took the lead from the outset, triumphed over his nearest competitor, the Congress’s two-time legislator Bharat Bhushan Ashu, by a margin of 10,637 votes.

Newcomer to politics, Jiwan Gupta from the BJP, placed third.

Arora, who kicked off his campaign in March, garnered 35,179 votes, while Congress’s Ashu received 24,542 votes and BJP’s Gupta acquired 20,323 votes.

The Akali Dal candidate managed to secure merely 8,203 votes.

In response to the party’s success, Punjab AAP in-charge, who campaigned actively prior to the election, stated, "Sanjeev Arora has emerged victorious in the Ludhiana (West) bypoll, and the public has demonstrated their satisfaction with the achievements of the Mann-led Punjab government."

The bypoll was called following the unfortunate passing of AAP’s Ludhiana (West) legislator Gurpreet Bassi Gogi due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound in January.

Expressing gratitude to the voters for their support, state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema remarked, "This victory signifies the success of our party, our government, and our initiatives... I firmly believe that AAP will once again form the government in Punjab in 2027."

When asked about his immediate priorities after entering the state legislative assembly, AAP legislator Arora, a distinguished social worker in Ludhiana, emphasized, "Development, development, development."

Punjab AAP President Aman Arora attributed the party's victory to Arvind Kejriwal’s policies, the accomplishments of the Mann government, the dedication of party workers, and the integrity of Sanjeev Arora.

In congratulating Arora on behalf of the BJP, Ravneet Bittu, the Member of Parliament from Ludhiana, acknowledged, "I trust he will diligently work towards the advancement and development of Ludhiana."

Bittu noted that Gupta’s achievement of over 20,000 votes within just 14 days of campaigning was remarkable.

“While AAP may be celebrating their win, a detailed examination of the figures reveals that the total vote share of the opposition significantly surpasses that of the ruling party, indicating a rising discontent among the electorate,” he shared on X.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to all BJP workers and leaders whose relentless efforts contributed to this outcome. Let’s persist in our commitment and determination,” Bittu added.

“Congratulations to everyone on the party’s remarkable victory,” Chief Minister Mann stated, adding, “This win, achieved with a substantial margin, clearly shows that the citizens of the state are pleased with our government’s performance. We remain committed to working tirelessly and honestly for the advancement and prosperity of Punjab.”