Jalandhar West Assembly bypoll: CM Mann, family will move to Jalandhar to wrest the seat

The by-election is scheduled for July 10 and the results will be declared on July 13. The seat fell vacant when AAP MLA Sheetal Angural defected to the BJP just before the Lok Sabha elections.

In the 2022 Assembly elections, the AAP had secured a decisive victory, winning 92 out of 117 seats. However, the party’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections has raised concerns in Punjab.

The AAP emerged victorious from Jalandhar West constituency in the 2022 Assembly elections. In the 2023 Lok Sabha by-election, the party maintained its lead in this Assembly segment. However, in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the party suffered a setback, finishing a distant third with just 15,629 votes while the Congress secured 44,394 votes and the BJP garnered 42,830 votes.

Party sources said that the CM will spend more than two weeks in Jalandhar leading up to the election. When reached for comment, AAP’s working president in Punjab and MLA from Budhlada (Mansa district) principal (retired) Budh Ram emphasised that the CM is free to stay anywhere in the state. “With the elections drawing near, every member of the party, including Chief Minister saab (sir), is dedicated to winning it. The AAP is determined to retain this seat, as its outcome will reflect on the performance of the Punjab government.

Calling this by-election a make-or-break moment for all three major parties – Congress, BJP and AAP – a political observer and retired professor, G C Kaul, stated that even if the Punjab CM decides to reside in Jalandhar until the by-election, little will change in the next few days. “In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the electorate has sent a clear message to the AAP.”

Kaul pointed out lack of development in Jalandhar, poor road conditions and inadequate civic amenities despite promises made by the ruling party. He stressed that people cannot be deceived by mere rhetoric and attacks on Opposition parties.

Advocate Satpal Virdi, another political observer, said this Assembly by-election soon after the Lok Sabha election cannot alter people’s sentiments. He emphasised that the electorate wants development, basic amenities and welfare schemes, which are currently lacking. Mere speeches, he added, will not suffice to address these issues.