The Ludhiana West byelection was held peacefully on Friday, with no major incidents reported across the constituency. Around 90,000 voters — 51.32% of the total 1.74 lakh — came out to cast their votes.
Despite a high-energy campaign by all parties, polling day was marked by moments of warmth and mutual respect among rival candidates. Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, BJP’s Jiwan Gupta, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora, and SAD’s Parupkar Singh Ghuman all expressed satisfaction with the peaceful process.
In a heartening change of tone, candidates greeted each other with hugs, handshakes, and light-hearted conversations at various polling stations. BJP’s Gupta was even seen touching Ashu’s feet before the two embraced. Arora joked with workers from Congress and BJP, while SAD’s Ghuman showed respect to Ashu’s wife, Mamta Ashu, by touching her feet.
However, a few minor incidents did occur. At Malwa Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Mamta Ashu stopped some AAP workers from entering a polling booth. On the night before the election, residents in Sham Nagar caught a mini-truck loaded with ration allegedly meant to sway voters. Police seized the vehicle and registered a case against the driver, Amarjeet Singh alias Vicky.
In Jawaddi Kalan, a scuffle broke out between AAP and SAD workers over claims of fake voting. SAD candidate Ghuman intervened, and Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma promised fair investigation and action.
Despite the tension during campaigning, polling day ended on a positive note. Most party workers exchanged friendly banter outside polling booths, focusing more on their plans for the future than personal attacks.
Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C confirmed the final voter turnout at 51.33% and highlighted a new automated system for generating index cards, aimed at faster and more efficient post-election reporting.
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