AAP’s litmus test in Ludhiana west

As Ludhiana West gears up for voting on June 19, the constituency is drawing national attention not just for the electoral contest it presents, but for what it symbolizes for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). With counting scheduled for June 23, this bypoll has become far more than a local affair: it’s a high-stakes referendum on AAP’s standing in Punjab and beyond.

A seat with political weight

Ludhiana West, located in the heart of Punjab’s largest industrial city, is more than just a legislative constituency & is like a barometer of urban sentiment. Home to major industrial houses and a sizable middle-class voter base, the seat often reflects wider political shifts among urban voters.

The by-election was triggered by the untimely demise of Gurpreet Singh Bassi Gogi, who had joined AAP from the Congress in 2022 and won the seat during the party’s historic sweep in Punjab. His passing created a vacuum that AAP now urgently seeks to fill, not just electorally, but symbolically.

All eyes on party candidate Sanjeev Arora

In a move that underscores the importance of this seat, AAP has fielded Sanjeev Arora, a Rajya Sabha MP and prominent Ludhiana-based industrialist. Arora’s candidacy signals the party’s strategy to appeal directly to the city’s industrial and professional class, blending political credibility with business acumen.

But it’s also a battle of prestige. Following setbacks in the recent Lok Sabha elections, including losses in Delhi, AAP needs a convincing win to regain momentum. A victory in Ludhiana West would help restore confidence within the party’s rank and file and send a message that its urban base remains intact.

Speculation over Rajya Sabha dynamics

Interestingly, political chatter suggests that if Sanjeev Arora wins, he will obviously resign from his Rajya Sabha seat. This has sparked speculation that AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal, currently not a member of any legislative house, could be nominated to fill the vacancy offering him a path back into the parliamentary system after AAP’s loss in Delhi.

While unconfirmed, this possibility adds a strategic layer to the bypoll, making it even more significant in the broader national political context.