BJP eyes Hindu candidate for Ludhiana byelection

The BJP is reportedly in the process of shortlisting candidates for the Ludhiana West bypoll, with sources indicating that the party is looking for a Hindu face to represent the constituency, which has a significant number of Hindu voters.

Though eight potential candidates have been shortlisted from a pool of over 24, there is a possibility that the party may choose someone from outside the list to put up a strong challenge against contenders who have already made substantial headway in campaigning.

An unnamed BJP leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that while local names were being discussed, the party needed a candidate capable of competing fiercely with other prominent figures like Sanjeev Arora from AAP and Bharat Bhushan Ashu from Congress. The leader also mentioned that discussions had taken place between BJP’s Punjab State Affairs in-charge Vijay Roopani and former Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu about the potential candidate.

According to the source, the party is considering a seasoned politician with a background in Congress. This candidate, who is Hindu, could present a formidable challenge to the others. However, the final decision is still pending, with the party waiting for the candidate’s confirmation before proceeding further.

The leader added that this delay in announcing the candidate could be attributed to the ongoing focus on the the Pahalgam attack on April 22.

Ludhiana