Ashu & 2 others resign as Congress loses Ludhiana West bypoll
In a shocking turn of events, the Punjab Congress has suffered a major setback with the loss of the Ludhiana West bypoll. The party’s candidate, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, took responsibility for the loss and resigned from the Working President post of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). Two other prominent party leaders, MLA Pargat Singh and former MLA Kushaldeep Singh (Kikki Dhillon), who are also PPCC’s vice presidents, followed suit and resigned in solidarity with Ashu.
The Ludhiana West bypoll was seen as a crucial contest for the Congress, which has been struggling to maintain its stronghold in Punjab. The party had high hopes of winning the seat, but ultimately, it was pipped to the post by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance.
The resignation of Ashu, Pargat Singh, and Kikki Dhillon is seen as a major blow to the Congress in Punjab. Ashu, who was a prominent face of the party in the state, had been instrumental in the Congress’s campaign for the bypoll. His resignation is a clear indication that he is willing to take responsibility for the party’s loss.
In a statement, Ashu said, “I am taking responsibility for the loss of the Ludhiana West bypoll. As the Congress candidate, I was the face of the party’s campaign, and I am accountable for the results. I have resigned from the Working President post of the PPCC to demonstrate my commitment to the party and to take responsibility for our loss.”
Pargat Singh and Kikki Dhillon, who were also prominent faces of the party’s campaign, echoed Ashu’s sentiments and resigned from their posts as PPCC vice presidents. Their resignations are seen as a significant blow to the party, as they were both influential leaders in the state.
The Congress has been facing a tough time in Punjab, with the party’s popularity declining significantly in recent years. The loss of the Ludhiana West bypoll is seen as a major setback for the party, which had been hoping to regain lost ground.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance, on the other hand, has been gaining momentum in Punjab. The alliance won the Ludhiana West bypoll, which was seen as a major victory for the two parties.
The Congress is likely to face a tough time in the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab, which are scheduled to take place in 2022. The party will need to regroup and recharge to take on the SAD-BJP alliance and other opposition parties.
The resignation of Ashu, Pargat Singh, and Kikki Dhillon is a clear indication that the Congress is willing to take stock of its losses and make amends. The party will need to work hard to regain the confidence of its voters and to rebuild its fortunes in Punjab.
The news of the resignations was widely reported in the Indian Express, which said, “In a surprise move, Congress’s Ludhiana West bypoll candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who took responsibility for the party’s loss, resigned from the Working President post of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) on Tuesday. MLA Pargat Singh and former MLA Kushaldeep Singh (Kikki Dhillon), who are also PPCC’s vice presidents, followed suit and resigned in solidarity with Ashu.”
