The Ludhiana West Assembly constituency in Punjab is preparing for a by-election following the untimely death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi on January 11, 2025. The Election Commission has not yet announced the official polling date, but political activities are intensifying as major parties have declared their candidates.
Candidates for the Upcoming By-Election
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): Sanjeev ‘Sunny’ Arora, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP and industrialist from Ludhiana. His nomination is seen as a strategic move by AAP, potentially to vacate his Rajya Sabha seat for party leader Arvind Kejriwal .
Indian National Congress (INC): Bharat Bhushan Ashu, former state minister and Congress working president, who previously represented Ludhiana West in 2012 and 2017 .
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD): Parupkar Singh Ghuman, a former president of the Ludhiana District Bar Association .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): As of now, the BJP has not announced its candidate, but the party has shown significant interest in the constituency .
Voter Demographics
Total Registered Voters: Approximately 173,071 as per the latest electoral roll revision .
Demographic Composition: The constituency has a mixed demographic, with an estimated 55% Hindu and 45% Sikh population .
Previous Election Results
2022 Punjab Assembly Election:
Gurpreet Bassi Gogi (AAP): 40,443 votes (34.46%)
Advocate Bikram Singh Sidhu (BJP): 28,107 votes (23.95%)
Maheshinder Singh Grewal (SAD): 10,072 votes (8.58%)
Gogi won by a margin of 7,512 votes over Ashu .
2024 Lok Sabha Election (Ludhiana West Segment):
Ravneet Singh Bittu (BJP): 45,424 votes (41.40%)
Amrinder Singh Raja Warring (INC): 30,889 votes (28.15%)
Ashok Prashar Pappi (AAP): 22,461 votes (20.47%)
Bittu led by a margin of 14,535 votes in this segment .
Prospects in the Upcoming By-Election
The upcoming by-election is expected to be a closely contested triangular battle among AAP, Congress, and BJP.
AAP: While AAP secured the seat in 2022, their vote share declined in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The selection of Sanjeev Arora, a prominent industrialist, may bolster their appeal, but the party needs to address the recent dip in support.
Congress: Bharat Bhushan Ashu brings experience and a history of electoral success in the constituency. His previous tenure and local recognition could be advantageous.
BJP: The significant lead in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections indicates growing support. Although the party hasn’t announced a candidate yet, their recent performance suggests they are strong contenders.
The Shiromani Akali Dal, while having a historical presence, faces challenges in the current political landscape.