Congress campaigns in Ludhiana West to prevent Kejriwal's 'backdoor entry'.

Ludhiana: Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu has launched his campaign for the Ludhiana West assembly byelection, framing the contest as a fight to prevent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal from securing a "backdoor entry" into Punjab politics.

Ashu, who is also the working -resident of the Punjab Congress and a former state minister, said the party was united ahead of the contest, with senior leaders rallying to strengthen the campaign. "The entire Congress — from senior members to grassroots workers — is coming together," Ashu told reporters on Sunday in Ludhiana. "We've been in the field for two months, and now with the poll date announced, our campaign will intensify with door-to-door outreach and scheduled meetings."

Senior legislator Rana Gurjeet Singh, who is overseeing the party's byelection strategy, is expected to meet local Congress bigwigs and workers in Ludhiana on Monday to allocate them responsibilities and boost momentum. Ashu is contesting his fourth assembly election, having won in 2012 and 2017 before losing in 2022 to AAP's Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, whose sudden death from a gunshot injury in Jan triggered the current byelection.

In his vote appeal, Ashu highlighted previous development work during his tenure — such as constructing railway bridges and cleaning the Sidhwan Canal. He criticised AAP's decision to field a Rajya Sabha MP for the seat, questioning the party's commitment to local leadership. "Wasn't there a local AAP member fit to contest?" he asked. "People are watching, and they'll respond in kind." Ashu accused AAP of disappointing the public and said the byelection would serve as a referendum on the performance of Punjab's governing party.

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