The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) scored a clear and strong win in the Ludhiana West bypoll, with its candidate Sanjeev Arora defeating Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu by a large margin. The election was held after the sudden death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi earlier this year.
Compared to the 2022 Assembly polls, Ashu got far fewer votes this time, a major blow to the Congress party. Despite his efforts, his campaign was weakened by internal party issues. Infighting within Congress and the absence of its top state leaders during the campaign damaged Ashu’s chances.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other AAP leaders used the Congress rift to their advantage, running a strong campaign that highlighted AAP’s governance and ground work. Sanjeev Arora also connected well with voters, and being the ruling party’s candidate gave him an extra edge.
While Congress leaders like Rana Gurjeet, Pargat Singh, and former CM Charanjit Singh Channi campaigned for Ashu, key figures like party state president Raja Warring and CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa stayed away. In fact, Ashu himself reportedly discouraged their involvement, leading to a fractured campaign.
The Congress campaign lost steam in the final days. AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel visited only a day before the campaign ended, raising concerns among local leaders. In a closed-door meeting, senior Congress members warned that internal fights could help rivals — especially the BJP — gain ground before the 2027 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, AAP treated the bypoll as a prestige contest and pulled out all stops. Their victory not only boosts morale but also strengthens their position in urban Punjab, especially among Hindu and business communities, traditionally Congress or BJP voters.
With this win, AAP has sent a strong message — both to its rivals and its supporters — that it’s still firmly in control in Punjab.
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