The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is treating the upcoming Ludhiana West by-election on June 19 as a crucial contest. Although the bypoll won’t affect AAP’s majority — it already holds 94 out of 117 Assembly seats — the party is putting in maximum effort to secure a win for its candidate, Sanjeev Arora.
After losing the Delhi Assembly polls in February, AAP is desperate for a win to energise its workers and regain political momentum. Top party leaders, including Delhi-based strategists, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, state party chief Aman Arora, and several ministers and MPs, are all actively campaigning in Ludhiana. Senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain are managing the campaign, and national convener Arvind Kejriwal is also involved.
Opposition parties have criticized AAP for relying too much on its Delhi leadership, calling them “Dilliwale.” AAP responded by pointing out that even Congress is relying on leaders like Chhattisgarh’s Bhupesh Baghel to manage its affairs in Punjab.
This bypoll has generated more buzz than usual. The Punjab government held three cabinet meetings in one week — a rare move — to roll out decisions aimed at winning over urban voters. CM Mann’s recent “one nation, one husband” remark is also being seen as an attempt to influence Hindu voters.
A win in Ludhiana would boost the political career of Sanjeev Arora, a businessman-turned-Rajya Sabha MP, and give AAP momentum heading into the 2027 Assembly elections. But a loss or even a narrow victory could weaken the party’s standing in Punjab.
The Congress and BJP are also fighting hard to win this seat. Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu is seen as a strong challenger, though internal rifts in the party could hurt his chances. The BJP, while having a strong cadre in Ludhiana, is fielding Jiwan Gupta, who lacks the popularity of Arora or the aggressive campaigning style of Ashu.
For AAP, this bypoll is more than just a seat — it’s a test of its public support and political strategy going forward.
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