Ludhiana/Chandigarh: In a significant electoral triumph, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Sanjeev Arora clinched victory in the Ludhiana West Assembly by-election, defeating his rivals by a margin of 10,637 votes. Arora secured a total of 35,179 votes, reaffirming AAP’s stronghold in Punjab.
Expressing gratitude, Arora thanked the voters, party workers, and leadership.
“I express my gratitude to all citizens of Ludhiana, volunteers, counsellors, MLAs, ministers, leaders, especially Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and party supremo Arvind Kejriwal,” he told media.
His wife, Sandhya Arora, also expressed joy, stating her husband will fulfill development promises.
Following the result, AAP workers celebrated the win in Chandigarh, distributing sweets and raising slogans in support of the party leadership.
On the possibility of Sanjeev Arora moving to the Rajya Sabha, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal clarified:
“I am not going to the Rajya Sabha. The party’s Political Affairs Committee will decide who will go,” he said.
Punjab Ministers Balbir Singh and Harpal Singh Cheema hailed the victory as a sign of public faith in AAP’s governance.
“This is the victory of the government’s work, policies, and CM Bhagwant Mann’s leadership,” Cheema said, predicting AAP’s return in the 2027 Punjab elections.
In Gujarat’s Visavadar Assembly bypoll, AAP’s Gopal Italia also registered a crucial win against BJP’s Kirit Patel by 17,554 votes, marking a rare double win for AAP outside Delhi and Punjab.
Manish Sisodia, AAP’s Punjab in-charge, called these wins a “semi-final” ahead of future elections:
“People have given their approval to Bhagwant Mann’s government. This boosts morale for the 2027 polls,” he said.
The Ludhiana West seat fell vacant after the demise of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi. The Congress fielded former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and SAD fielded Parupkar Singh Ghumman, both of whom lagged behind Arora.
In the five-seat bypolls across four states, Kerala’s Nilambur recorded the highest voter turnout at 73.26%, while Ludhiana West had the lowest at 51.33%.
The twin victories are seen as a significant boost for AAP, which is looking to expand its influence beyond Punjab and Delhi.