With the Ludhiana West by-election around the corner following the demise of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, political activities in Punjab have intensified. While the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already declared Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate, Congress leader and former Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu is making significant moves to secure his position as the party’s nominee.

Ashu, currently serving as Punjab Congress’ working president, met with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, signaling his strong bid for the Ludhiana West ticket. Following the meeting, Ashu took to social media to share a picture with Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by a message hinting at an impending political shift in Punjab.

In his post, Ashu declared, “The winds of change will begin from the west. The storm that starts from Ludhiana West will sweep across Punjab by 2027. Congress is returning stronger than ever.”

He further expressed his gratitude to Rahul Gandhi, calling him a guiding force and stating, “Every conversation with him is an inspiration, filled with his unwavering commitment to truth and justice. I assured him that Punjab Congress stands united, firm, and ready to win every upcoming election.”

Ashu’s social media statement is being seen as a direct challenge to AAP’s governance in Punjab, while also bolstering his claim for the Congress ticket in the upcoming bypoll.

Alongside his bid for the Ludhiana West seat, Ashu launched a scathing attack on the AAP Government, accusing it of plunging Punjab into a governance crisis. He alleged that law and order has deteriorated under Bhagwant Mann’s leadership, with gangsters gaining control of the streets and businesses losing confidence in the state administration.

Furthermore, Ashu criticized AAP’s decision to field Sanjeev Arora in the by-election, calling it a politically-motivated move aimed at securing a Rajya Sabha seat for former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal rather than serving the people of Ludhiana West. He also accused AAP of sidelining Gurpreet Gogi’s family, who, according to him, were initially promised the ticket but were later ignored in favour of Arora.

As Congress gears up for the by-election, Ashu’s aggressive campaigning suggests that the party is determined to reclaim its lost ground in Punjab. He asserted that Congress is prepared to take on AAP in every upcoming election and promised that by 2027, the party will sweep Punjab.

With the by-election date expected to be announced soon, the Ludhiana West contest is shaping up to be a fierce battle between AAP and Congress, with Bharat Bhushan Ashu emerging as a key challenger in Punjab’s evolving political landscape.