BJP likely to take another week or more to decide on candidate

For the Ludhiana West bypoll all major parties have announced the candidates except for the BJP, which will take another week or even more to decide on their face for the election. Shri Nevasu, BJP general secretary, who met the party leaders in Ludhiana had recently told The Tribune that the meeting of the state election committee meeting would be held on April 22 and the list of shortlisted candidates would be sent to Delhi, where the final decision would be taken and the name announced.

At the same time, sore over the delay in announcing name of the party candidate, one of the leaders of the BJP Amarjit Singh Tikka has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that there was an urgent need for a focussed BJP campaigning in the upcoming byelection.

Tikka, in the letter written to the PM said that the upcoming Ludhiana West byelection held significant political importance, not just for the constituency, but as a precursor and testing ground for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. All major political parties have understood the importance of this byelection. The AAP leadership, including Arvind Kejriwal, camped in Ludhiana, micro-managing the campaign. Similarly, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and top Congress leaders were active on the ground, mobilising cadres and reaching out to voters. The high-voltage campaigning from their side reflects their seriousness in securing this seat and gaining psychological momentum for 2027.

“However, the BJP’s presence on the ground is currently limited and this is a cause for concern. This is a crucial opportunity for the BJP to assert its growing relevance in Punjab’s political space, especially in urban areas like Ludhiana. It is high time that senior BJP leaders, especially those who are Sikhs or have deep roots and affiliations in Punjab, take charge and lead the campaign from the front. Their visibility and connection with the local populace can help in galvanising support and energising the party cadre,” said Tikka.

He added that with increasing disillusionment among the public toward traditional parties and a rising yearning for a strong and stable alternative, the BJP stood a genuine chance, “but only if we act now with full force and presence”.

He has urged the PM to direct top BJP leadership comprising Hardeep Singh Puri, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Iqbal Singh Lalpura and Meenakshi Lekhi and other BJP leaders who have affiliations to Punjab to prioritise this byelection and ensure a robust and visible campaign in Ludhiana West. The political message and momentum built here will echo well in the 2027 elections, Tikka added.

Ludhiana