
Ashu & 2 Others Resign as Congress Loses Ludhiana West By-Poll
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has suffered a major setback with the resignation of its Working President Bharat Bhushan Ashu, MLA Pargat Singh, and former MLA Kushaldeep Singh (Kikki Dhillon) in the wake of the party’s loss in the Ludhiana West by-poll. The Congress had fielded Ashu, a local MLA, as its candidate for the by-poll, but despite his efforts, the party failed to win the seat.
In a surprise move, Ashu took responsibility for the party’s loss and resigned from his post as the PPCC’s Working President. He was accompanied by Pargat Singh, a sitting MLA and PPCC’s vice president, and Kushaldeep Singh, a former MLA and also a PPCC vice president. The three leaders had campaigned extensively for Ashu’s win, and their resignation is seen as a gesture of solidarity with the defeated candidate.
The Ludhiana West by-poll was held on January 29, and the results were declared on January 31. The party’s candidate, Ashu, lost to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance candidate, Harpreet Monga. The Congress had high hopes of winning the seat, considering Ashu’s popularity in the area. However, the party’s loss is a major embarrassment for the state unit, which has been struggling to regain its lost ground in Punjab.
Ashu, who has been a vocal critic of the state government, took to social media to announce his resignation. He tweeted, “I take full responsibility for the loss. I have resigned from the post of Working President, PPCC. I will continue to work for the party and the people of Punjab.”
Pargat Singh and Kushaldeep Singh also resigned from their posts as PPCC vice presidents in a show of solidarity with Ashu. The trio had campaigned extensively in Ludhiana West, and their resignation is seen as a sign of their commitment to the party.
The Congress’s loss in Ludhiana West is a major setback for the party, which has been struggling to regain its lost ground in Punjab. The party has been out of power in the state since 2017, when it was defeated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance in the assembly elections.
The Congress’s performance in the Ludhiana West by-poll is a reflection of the party’s weak organizational structure in the state. The party has been facing internal conflicts and leadership issues, which have affected its performance in recent elections.
The resignation of Ashu, Pargat Singh, and Kushaldeep Singh is a significant development in Punjab politics. The trio has been vocal critics of the state government, and their resignation is seen as a sign of their commitment to the party. Their resignation also sends a message to the party leadership to take responsibility for its losses and work towards rebuilding the party’s organizational structure.
The Congress’s loss in Ludhiana West is also seen as a setback for the party’s chances of winning the 2022 Punjab assembly elections. The party has been trying to regain its lost ground in the state, but its performance in the by-poll has raised doubts about its ability to win the assembly elections.
In conclusion, the resignation of Ashu, Pargat Singh, and Kushaldeep Singh is a significant development in Punjab politics. The trio’s resignation is a sign of their commitment to the party, and their decision to take responsibility for the party’s loss is a rare example of accountability in Indian politics. The Congress’s loss in Ludhiana West is a setback for the party, but it also presents an opportunity for the party to rebuild its organizational structure and regroup for the 2022 assembly elections.