The Ludhiana West byelection is a crucial battle between Congress and AAP’s leadership.
The by-election for the Ludhiana West Assembly seat in Punjab is shaping up to be a closely watched contest. It has become a matter of prestige for both the Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). From AAP’s national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the party is putting its full strength into retaining this crucial seat.
A victory here would open the door to the Rajya Sabha for Kejriwal. The party has fielded Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate. Following its defeat in Delhi, AAP quickly announced Arora’s candidacy, fuelling speculation that Kejriwal could enter the Rajya Sabha from his seat. Although Kejriwal has denied these claims, his active campaigning suggests otherwise. Many believe this is a strategic move to secure a position in national politics and begin a new chapter through the Upper House.
In a bid to clear the way for a win, the Punjab government even forcefully ended the farmers’ agitation, reportedly under pressure from local traders. Voting for this by-election is scheduled for June 19.
On the other side, the election holds high stakes for the Congress as well—particularly for newly appointed state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, and Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa. The Congress had earlier propagated rumours about a split within AAP and the potential fall of the Punjab government. Now, winning this seat is crucial for the credibility and future of these leaders. Bharat Bhushan Ashu has been fielded as the Congress candidate.
The Congress high command is also considering changes in the state leadership, and the results of this by-election could heavily influence those decisions. Bajwa and Warring, both Sikh Jats, are reportedly not on good terms with other party leaders, and it’s widely believed that one of them may be replaced soon.
Meanwhile, the departure of senior Congress leader Ravneet Singh Bittu to the BJP—where he now serves as a Union Minister—has weakened the party’s base. Another senior leader, MP Manish Tewari, who once represented Ludhiana in the Lok Sabha and was a minister in the UPA government, is also keeping his distance from the campaign. Factionalism within the party remains a major concern.
Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is also pursuing his own political ambitions and is reportedly lobbying to return as state party president. In the last assembly
इस शब्द का अर्थ जानिये elections, Congress had projected Channi as the CM face, which led to internal divisions and contributed to the party’s worst-ever defeat in the state.
In this scenario, the Congress’s road to victory in Ludhiana West appears challenging. However, the party has deployed Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma—who originally hails from Punjab—to aid in the campaign. Still, overcoming deep-rooted factionalism within the Punjab Congress is no easy task.
AAP’s strategy appears to focus on securing this seat at any cost to reignite Kejriwal’s electoral relevance. With Assembly elections in Punjab just two years away, the state has gained significant importance for AAP after its recent setbacks in Delhi. To keep his political career afloat, Kejriwal is expected to focus heavily on Punjab, and this by-election could mark the beginning of his re-entry into national politics.
