LS elections: AAP workers expect candidate announcement soon

Harshraj Singh

Ludhiana, March 2

Ahead of the imminent Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has increased its activities, with party members eagerly anticipating the announcement of the party’s candidate for the Ludhiana parliamentary seat.

Sources in AAP have said some old party members and newcomers who came from different political backgrounds were in the race for the candidacy.

On February 10, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced that the party would contest all seats in Punjab and Chandigarh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with announcements of candidates expected in the next 10-15 days. However, so far, no candidates have been announced. Notably, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal are scheduled to meet businessmen in Ludhiana on Sunday.

An AAP worker from Ludhiana said: “We anticipate the announcement of the party’s candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections soon. Our opinions are being sought regarding the selection of the Ludhiana candidate, with the final decision to be made by the party’s leadership. We eagerly await the announcement.”

Another volunteer emphasised the expectation that the candidate chosen would have a strong chance of winning and preferably be from the party.

AAP Punjab spokesperson Ahbaab Singh Grewal suggested that the candidate announcement may occur in a week. AAP Ludhiana president Sharanpal Singh Makkar highlighted their efforts in promoting awareness about the state government’s ‘Sarkar Tuhade Dwar’ programme.

In the 2014 elections, AAP fielded its candidate for the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency for the first time, with advocate HS Phoolka as its choice. However, Phoolka lost the elections, securing 2,80,750 votes while Congress candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu emerged victorious by securing 3,00,459 votes.

However, in 2019, AAP’s performance significantly declined, with their candidate finishing fourth. Ravneet Singh Bittu of the Congress won the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency in 2019, securing 3,83,795 votes. Simarjeet Singh Bains of the Lok Insaaf Party came second with 3,07,423 votes. Maheshinder Singh Grewal of the Shiromani Akali Dal, with 2,99,435 votes, stood third. And AAP’s candidate, Prof Tej Pal Singh Gill, secured 15,945 votes, placing fourth among 22 candidates.

In the 2022 state Assembly elections, AAP performed well, winning 13 out of the 14 Assembly seats in the district.

The Ludhiana parliamentary constituency comprises nine Assembly constituencies in the district — Ludhiana East, Ludhiana South, Atam Nagar, Ludhiana Central, Ludhiana West, Ludhiana North, Gill, Dakha and Jagraon. Additionally, five Assembly constituencies — Khanna, Samrala, Sahnewal, Payal, and Raikot of Ludhiana district — fall in the Fatehgarh Sahib parliamentary constituency.

Grewal: Likely to be declared in week

AAP Punjab spokesperson Ahbaab Singh Grewal said the announcement of the candidate for the Ludhiana parliamentary seat may occur in a week.