As campaigning for the Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll concluded on Tuesday, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced multiple allegations from Opposition parties over alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused AAP of distributing ration kits, cash, and other freebies to sway voters. The parties claimed that the kits contained grocery items, clothes, notebooks, school bags, and stationery — all reportedly with the printed image of AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora and the party's election symbol, the broom.
Opposition leaders have called the distribution a blatant attempt to influence voters in the final hours before polling, demanding action from the Election Commission.
Punjab’s chief electoral officer Sibin C confirmed that a complaint has been received against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for allegedly distributing freebies to voters ahead of the bypoll.
“I have sought a detailed report from the district election officer (DEO),” Sibin C said, noting that the complaint was filed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Parupkar Singh Ghumman.
According to the SAD’s complaint, AAP kits featuring the image of party candidate Sanjeev Arora were being distributed in the Panjpeer area of Ludhiana — a move the party termed a “grave violation of the Model Code of Conduct.”
The SAD also submitted photographic evidence to the Election Commission. The images reportedly show kits containing items such as saris or suits, pencil boxes, notebooks, and school bags.
The BJP also lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission, accusing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers of distributing cash, liquor, and other materials to influence voters in multiple areas of Ludhiana West.
The complaint, signed by BJP’s office in-charge Suneel Bhardwaj, stated that “The workers of the AAP candidate are distributing money, whisky, and other materials across Jawahar Nagar Camp, Haibowal, Sunet, Panjpeer Road, Barewal, Jawaddi, and other parts of Ludhiana. Immediate action must be taken against them.”
SAD candidate Ghumman has escalated his attack on AAP, alleging that in addition to distributing freebies, the ruling party is also handing out cash to influence voters ahead of the Ludhiana West bypoll.
“It's not just the freebies — we have credible inputs that AAP is distributing ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 per voter in certain areas,” Ghumman claimed. “But let me tell AAP, even if they offer ₹1 lakh per person, Punjabis will reject them. I urge people to take the money — it’s their own money being returned after being looted by this government,” he added.
Ghumman also took to Facebook, sharing a photograph of the alleged kits and criticizing the campaign. “From school bags with party branding to trucks carrying inverters and coolers — AAP is turning what should be a fair election into a state-sponsored vote buying operation,” he wrote. “This is not welfare; it’s electoral corruption in AAP’s colors. Where is the Election Commission? Where is the accountability? Is this the badlaav they promised?”
Mamta Ashu, wife of Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of openly distributing gifts and using intimidation tactics to sway voters in the bypoll.
“We have video evidence showing AAP workers distributing suits and saris to women voters in areas like Jawahar Camp and Panjpeer Road,” Mamta Ashu said. “In localities where people are refusing to accept these freebies, they are allegedly using police pressure and threats to force votes for the ruling party. It’s a complete mockery of democracy,” she added.
She further claimed that the entire operation is taking place “under the nose” of the Ludhiana police and district administration, questioning the integrity of the AAP-led government. “This is the reality of AAP’s so-called honesty,” she remarked.
Refuting the allegations, AAP spokesperson Neel Garg dismissed the claims of poll code violations as baseless. “We do not believe in violating model code of conduct. AAP does not need to resort to these things as we are already getting wholehearted support from the people. We have no idea where those photos have come from. We completely deny this allegation,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Singh Channi, leveled further accusations against AAP, claiming the party is distributing free ration kits containing bottles of cooking oil to woo voters ahead of the Ludhiana West bypoll.
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