Ashu & 2 others resign as Congress loses Ludhiana West bypoll
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has been hit by a series of resignations following the loss of the Ludhiana West bypoll. The bypoll was seen as a prestige battle for the Congress, and the party’s defeat has led to a sense of shock and disappointment among its leaders.
At the center of the controversy is Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the Congress’s candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll. Ashu, who is also the Working President of the PPCC, took responsibility for the party’s loss and resigned from his post. In a statement, Ashu said that he was willing to take the blame for the party’s defeat and would not be a part of the decision-making process anymore.
Ashu’s resignation was followed by that of two other PPCC vice presidents, MLA Pargat Singh and former MLA Kushaldeep Singh (Kikki Dhillon). Both Singh and Dhillon had stood by Ashu during the campaign and had campaigned extensively for the party’s candidate. Their resignation is seen as a sign of solidarity with Ashu and a gesture of accountability for the party’s loss.
The resignations have sent shockwaves through the Congress party, which had been hoping to win the bypoll and boost its morale after a series of defeats in recent months. The party had seen the bypoll as an opportunity to revive its fortunes and had campaigned extensively in the constituency.
However, the party’s efforts were not enough to secure a win. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate, Hardeep Singh Mundian, won the bypoll with a margin of over 14,000 votes. The SAD had campaigned on a platform of anti-incumbency and had promised to bring about change in the state.
The Congress’s loss in the bypoll has raised questions about the party’s leadership and its ability to connect with voters. The party has been struggling to regain its foothold in the state after a series of electoral defeats in recent years.
The resignations of Ashu, Singh, and Dhillon are seen as a sign of accountability and a willingness to take responsibility for the party’s loss. However, some party leaders have criticized the resignations, saying that they are an overreaction and that the party needs to focus on rebuilding and regrouping rather than giving in to feelings of guilt and shame.
In a statement, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar said that the resignations were a personal decision taken by the individuals involved. “We respect their decision and will continue to work for the party,” Jakhar said.
The Congress party is already facing challenges in the state, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) making significant gains in recent months. The AAP has been campaigning on a platform of anti-corruption and has promised to bring about change in the state.
The party’s loss in the bypoll has given the AAP a boost, and its leader, Bhagwant Mann, has called the result a “victory for the people of Punjab”. Mann said that the AAP’s campaign had resonated with the voters and that the party was poised for a big win in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The resignations of Ashu, Singh, and Dhillon are a setback for the Congress party, but they also demonstrate a willingness to take responsibility for the party’s loss. The party will need to regroup and rebuild in order to recover from this defeat and prepare for the upcoming Assembly elections.
