Ludhiana West Bypoll: Punjab Congress chief Warring delivers pep talk for party workers, candidate Ashu missing

All former MLAs from Ludhiana urban including Surinder Dawar, Rakesh Pandey, Sanjay Talwar and former minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa were present except Ashu, who continued with his campaigning.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sanjay Talwar, former MLA Ludhiana East and president Ludhiana Congress (urban), said: “We had not invited Ashu as he is busy with campaigning. The motive of this meeting was to motivate the workers to work for Ashu and make him victorious. His personal presence wasn’t required as Warring and Bajwa both were there to motivate the workers.”

Ashu’s wife Mamta who is handling his campaign, said: “Every senior leader of the Punjab Congress is working to ensure Ashu’s victory in one or the other way. Raja Warring took a meeting of the workers today. Had Ashu also gone there, it would have been a waste of 3-4 hours. Hence, we continued with our campaigning schedule which was pre-planned.”

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party had fielded Warring from Ludhiana, and had chosen him over Ashu. Warring won the Lok Sabha election against Ravneet Singh Bittu who had left Congress to join BJP.

Warring gave a clarion call to party workers to “rise above petty differences” and ensure the victory of the Congress in the ensuing by-election. (Express Photos)

Another speculated reason for Ashu’s absence from Warring’s meeting was the presence of Bains brothers — Simarjit Singh Bains and his elder brother Balwinder Singh Bains— who had merged their Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) with the Congress during Lok Sabha polls. Sources said that Ashu refrains from sharing any stage with Bains brothers, as Simarjit is out on bail in a rape case.

Meanwhile, Warring while addressing the party workers, Warring today gave a clarion call to party workers to “rise above petty differences” and ensure the victory of the Congress in the ensuing by-election.

Addressing a meeting of office bearers and prominent workers here today, Warring expressed confidence that the party will win the Ludhiana West assembly by-election with a record margin.

“Dedicate yourself with all determination for another three weeks and ensure the victory of the party on June 19”, he exhorted upon all the workers telling them to make it their personal battle.

The Ludhiana MP observed that the victory in Ludhiana West will be the first round towards the final victory in the 2027 assembly elections in Punjab. He assured the party workers that they will realize the difference once there is the Congress government.

“Every Congress worker will have the same power and authority like any other MLA or the minister”, he said amidst thumping applause from the audience.

Former minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa called upon the rank and file of the party to join hands and support the party candidate from Ludhiana West.

Asserting that it is a do or die battle for the party, he expressed confidence that the Congress workers and leaders will work together to defeat their opponents.

He disclosed that he had seen a lot of enthusiasm and optimism among the party workers as everyone believed that the Congress was going to win the by-election and set the tone for 2027 assembly elections. “This is going to be our first step towards the final destination of 2027”, he told the workers.