The political battleground of Ludhiana West is witnessing a sharp escalation in rhetoric and public posturing as Punjab heads towards a crucial by-election on June 19. The Assembly seat, vacated due to the accidental death of sitting AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, has become a prestige fight between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The campaign has transformed into a slogan war, with emotions like “gussa” (anger) and “ahankaar” (arrogance) forming the core of each party’s messaging. With four main contenders vying for voter attention, personal reputations and party performances are under intense public scrutiny.

AAP’s Calm Pitch vs Congress’s Legacy

Sanjeev Arora, AAP’s candidate and current Rajya Sabha MP, is being projected as a calm, composed alternative to Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who previously represented Ludhiana West from 2012 to 2022. Arora’s central slogan, “Na gussa, na ahankaar, Sanjeev Arora iss vaar”, is a direct attack on Ashu’s perceived temperament issues.

Arora filed his nomination flanked by top AAP leaders including Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, and Atishi. “I had three more years in Rajya Sabha, but I took this responsibility because I was already working for Ludhiana’s development,” Arora said.

Referring to past incidents of Ashu reportedly lashing out at government officials, Arora added, “Government employees need to be respected. Nobody should threaten them.”

Kejriwal also backed the messaging, telling voters:
“Last time in 2022, you rejected gussa and ahankaar and chose Gogi ji. If you want a sewadar who works for you, vote for Arora.”

Congress Retaliates with 'Development and Trust'

Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a seasoned politician, has not taken these jibes lightly. Hitting back with his own slogan, “For development and trust, Ashu is a must”, he has challenged AAP’s governance and accused it of using emotional tactics to hide policy failures.

Ashu was jailed in 2022 over alleged involvement in a foodgrain scam, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the charges, giving him political reprieve. “Earlier, they called me corrupt. Now, with the court clearing me, they’ve shifted focus to ‘anger’. But these tactics won’t work,” said Ashu.

He also added, “The winds of change to oust AAP from Punjab will begin in Ludhiana.”

Congress is aggressively targeting AAP's performance over the past three years and is determined to reclaim the seat as part of a larger strategy to revive its strength in Punjab.

SAD Steps In With Its Own Slogan

Caught in a leadership crisis, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has fielded advocate Parupkar Singh Ghumman. The party too has joined the slogan war with:
“Na baahari, na ahankaari… iss vaar Parupkar di vaari”
(“Neither an outsider, nor arrogant – this time it’s Parupkar’s turn”).

Ghumman criticised both rivals, saying, “Arora is an outsider, and Ashu has failed the people despite being a minister. Neither deserves a second chance.”

Though SAD has struggled in recent elections, it aims to position itself as a third alternative in this highly polarised contest.

BJP Eyes Opportunity Amid Divided Rivals

The BJP has named Jiwan Gupta, a former general secretary of its Punjab unit, as its candidate. The party is hoping to capitalise on its relatively strong performance in the recent Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections.

Though it remains a minor player in Punjab politics, the BJP is attempting to leverage the division of votes among the other three parties to make electoral inroads.

AAP’s Bigger Gamble

This bypoll holds major significance for AAP. The party’s recent setbacks — including losses in the Delhi Assembly elections and municipal polls in Ludhiana — have put it under pressure. The selection of a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjeev Arora, for a state Assembly bypoll, has drawn criticism and raised questions about party priorities and internal strategies.

Critics allege that Kejriwal’s selection of Arora is aimed at vacating a Rajya Sabha seat for future political manoeuvring. But AAP insists that Arora’s long-standing work in Ludhiana makes him the best candidate.

What’s at Stake

The Ludhiana West bypoll is more than just a local electoral exercise — it’s a litmus test for AAP’s credibility, a comeback opportunity for Congress, and a chance for SAD and BJP to reassert themselves.

The aggressive campaigns, personal attacks, and war of slogans all indicate that this contest could set the tone for Punjab’s broader political landscape in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly elections.

As voters prepare to head to the polls on June 19, the choice before them is not just about individual candidates, but about the vision and tone of governance each party promises to deliver.

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