Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday expressed strong confidence in his party’s prospects in the upcoming Ludhiana West assembly byelection, claiming the Congress will win by a “record margin” when voting takes place on June 19.
“Congress practically has no competition here,” Warring asserted, taking a direct dig at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He alleged that AAP was “mistaken” in believing it could misuse government machinery during the poll.
“We will not allow the misuse of official machinery, and if any officer is found aiding AAP, their record will be maintained. As I’ve said before — we won’t forget, won’t forgive, and won’t spare,” he warned.
Warring, highlighting Congress’ 140-year-old roots in Punjab, dismissed AAP as a “newcomer” and rejected the notion that ruling parties typically dominate bypolls. “We won Barnala, considered AAP’s stronghold. We’ll win Ludhiana West too — a traditional Congress bastion,” he claimed.
He said the constituency’s strong Congress base and growing public dissatisfaction with the AAP government, particularly over deteriorating law and order, would help tilt the scales. “People no longer feel safe in Punjab — it’s either criminals or this government looting the public,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu stepped up his attack on AAP, urging voters to judge the ruling party on its performance over the past three-and-a-half years. Speaking at a public meeting in Rishi Nagar, Ashu asked, “If they couldn’t deliver in over three years, what miracle will they perform in the last year?”
Ashu accused AAP of “false promises, failure, and political vendetta." My fight is only against Kejriwal, as the local AAP candidate is just a poor pawn forced into the contest", he said.
Replying to a question about the AAP candidate, Ashu said, he had full sympathies for him, since he was and continues to be reluctant to contest.
"His plight is like that of a sheep who is being dragged to the slaughterhouse to make way for Arvind Kejriwal to Rajya Sabha", Ashu said, adding, "my fight is with Kejriwal and the people of Delhi who have grabbed everything in Punjab".
He said that on June 19, people of Ludhiana West will deliver a decisive verdict against the AAP outsiders and make a beginning to check them out.
"Enough is enough, now this must stop", he asserted, while referring to the complete hijacking of the government and the administration by the outsiders.
The bypoll to Ludhiana West assembly seat in Punjab will take place on June 19 and the counting will be held on June 23. The seat fell vacant following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January.
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