PUNJAB NEWS : The by-election was held following the demise of AAP Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi earlier this year.
AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora emerged victorious in the Ludhiana West Assembly by-election, defeating Congress contender Bharat Bhushan Ashu by a margin of 10,637 votes, as per the Election Commission of India.
Arora secured a total of 35,179 votes, while Ashu managed 24,542. BJP’s Jiwan Gupta came third with 20,323 votes, and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Parupkar Singh Ghuman stood fourth, garnering 8,203 votes.
Why Was the Bypoll Held?
The bypoll was necessitated due to the passing of in January this year. Voter turnout stood at 51.33%, notably lower than the 64% recorded during the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. Fourteen candidates were in the fray.
the by-election was seen as a crucial test for the ruling AAP, aiming to reaffirm its dominance in Punjab. For the Congress, the contest offered a chance to reclaim its influence in Ludhiana West, an urban stronghold it has previously won six times. The outcome also provided insights into BJP’s traction among urban voters in the state.
Candidates in Focus
AAP fielded 61-year-old Rajya Sabha MP and Ludhiana-based industrialist Sanjeev Arora, known for his philanthropic initiatives. Congress nominated 51-year-old former minister and party working president Bharat Bhushan Ashu. BJP’s candidate was Jiwan Gupta, a senior party leader and member of its Punjab core committee. The Shiromani Akali Dal nominated Parupkar Singh Ghuman, a lawyer and former president of the Ludhiana Bar Association.
Party Strength in Punjab Assembly
In the 117-member Punjab Assembly, AAP holds a commanding majority with 94 MLAs. The Congress has 16, Shiromani Akali Dal 3, BJP 2, Bahujan Samaj Party 1, and one seat is occupied by an Independent.