The Ludhiana West bypoll concluded with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) retaining its stronghold, as Sanjeev Arora defeated Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu by a margin of 10,637 votes. This result comes as a significant indicator for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections, highlighting AAP’s continued urban appeal in the state.
BJP Lok Sabha Performance Fails to Translate
Despite an aggressive campaign and recent Lok Sabha gains, the BJP could not replicate its parliamentary success in the Ludhiana West bypoll. BJP’s Jiwan Gupta finished third, with his vote share dropping to 22.54%—a notable decline from the party’s 2024 Lok Sabha tally in the constituency. This outcome underscores the challenges BJP faces in converting national momentum into local victories, especially in urban Punjab.
SAD’s Urban Influence Continues to Wane
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) saw its urban influence diminish further, with candidate Parupkar Singh Ghumman finishing a distant fourth. The result signals a persistent downward trend for SAD in Punjab’s urban political landscape, raising questions about its strategy ahead of the next assembly elections.
Voter Turnout and Political Implications BJP Lok Sabha
The bypoll witnessed lower voter turnout compared to the Lok Sabha elections, which partly explains the reduced vote count for major parties. However, the outcome clearly positions AAP as the party to watch in Punjab’s urban centers, while both BJP and SAD face the task of re-evaluating their urban outreach and campaign strategies.
Sources: