Why the Ludhiana bypoll is crucial for every major party in Punjab
The date for the Ludhiana West by-election has been announced. On Sunday morning, the Election Commission released the schedule for upcoming by-elections across five states. Voting for the Ludhiana West Assembly seat will be held on June 19, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 23.The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, the Congress has fielded former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has named Parupkar Singh Ghuman as its candidate. The BJP has not yet announced its candidate.advertisementAs per electoral regulations, no parliamentary or assembly seat can remain vacant for more than six months. Following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi on January 11, a by-election for the Ludhiana West Assembly constituency became due.
AAP was the first to announce its candidate on February 26, nominating Arora to contest the by-poll. The move was seen as strategic following the party's setbacks in Delhi, and as an attempt by the AAP leadership to consolidate its influence in Punjab.While there was speculation that big names like Arvind Kejriwal or Manish Sisodia might contest, the party dismissed these as rumours. The opposition believes Arora will be rewarded with a significant role in the state government for vacating his Rajya Sabha seat, although no official announcement has been made.advertisementArora, a businessman from Ludhiana, the industrial hub of Punjab, was also perceived to be a factor behind the government's recent business-friendly decisions, including the removal of farmer protest sites and the introduction of a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for businesses.This by-election is the first since the AAP government completed three years in office and is being viewed as a litmus test for the party ahead of the 2027 Vidhan Sabha elections. The decision to move Arora from the Rajya Sabha has added a layer of intrigue to the contest.In response, the Congress fielded Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a prominent Hindu face and former Food and Civil Supplies Minister. Ashu was initially expected to contest the Lok Sabha elections, especially after Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring decided to take on BJP's Ravneet Singh Bittu in Ludhiana, leading to public expressions of disappointment from Ashu over the party's leadership.The Shiromani Akali Dal, which had boycotted the last round of by-elections in November 2024 (in Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC), Gidderbaha, and Barnala), is back in the fray. That boycott followed a directive from Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, who declared party president Sukhbir Singh Badal a tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct), barring him from political activity. With only months left before the 2027 elections, SAD views this by-poll as an opportunity to revive cadre morale and reconnect with its base.advertisementMeanwhile, the BJP is yet to name its candidate. Ludhiana is seen as an urban bastion for the party, especially as Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, originally from Ludhiana, is currently its most high-profile leader from Punjab. While names are being discussed internally, the BJP appears to be weighing its choice carefully to boost its 2027 electoral prospects and strengthen its organisational structure in the region.Though a single seat is at stake, the Ludhiana West by-election is shaping up to be a high-stakes battle that could indicate the mood of the electorate in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Vidhan Sabha polls.Must Watch
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