31 May BJP fields Jiwan Gupta as candidate for Ludhiana West assembly bypoll
Before announcing its candidate, the BJP ramped up activities with frequent worker meetings and local mobilisation efforts. A previous event featured senior leaders energising grassroots workers ahead of what is expected to be a four-way contest, according to the Times of India.
The party has contested Ludhiana West assembly elections since 2012, with candidates Rajinder Bhandhari (2012), Kamal Chaitly (2017), and Bikram Sidhu (2022), but has yet to secure a victory in the constituency.
Despite past setbacks, BJP officials remain optimistic. They noted that in the recent parliamentary elections, the BJP garnered the highest number of votes in Ludhiana West. BJP candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu received 45,424 votes, surpassing Congress’ Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who secured 30,889 votes, and AAP’s Ashok Prashar Pappi, who got 22,461 votes.
AAP, Congress leave no stone unturned
AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora filed his nomination a day earlier, accompanied by a high-profile roadshow featuring AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Atishi, and Aman Arora.
Kejriwal highlighted AAP’s historic mandate in the 2022 Punjab elections, including their previous victory from Ludhiana West. The bypoll is seen as a crucial battleground in Punjab politics, with both parties vying to strengthen their foothold in this important urban constituency.Meanwhile, Congress on Thursday displayed strong unity as senior leaders gathered to support party candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu during his nomination filing for the Ludhiana West assembly bypoll, scheduled for June 19.
Among those present were Congress general secretary in-charge Punjab and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, MP and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma, Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla, along with MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Pargat Singh, and Aruna Chaudhary.
Addressing the gathering, Baghel expressed strong confidence in a Congress victory, citing the overwhelming support of thousands of party workers and stating that the writing was on the wall for a record-margin win in Ludhiana West.
Why are bypolls taking place in Ludhiana West in June?
The Ludhiana West bypoll is being held following the death of sitting AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January.
On Sunday, the Election Commission announced by-elections for five assembly seats across four states, scheduled for June 19, with vote counting on June 23. The last date to file nominations is June 2, and the deadline to withdraw is June 5.
Apart from Punjab’s Ludhiana West, bypolls will take place in two Gujarat assembly constituencies—Kadi and Visavadar—along with one seat each in Kerala and West Bengal.
Kerala’s Nilambur seat is vacant due to the resignation of P.V. Anvar, while West Bengal’s Kaliganj seat will go to bypolls following the death of sitting Trinamool Congress MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed.
(With inputs from agencies)