18062025-LT-01.qxd 6/18/2025 1:04 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CONG MLA URGES POLICE, ADMN TO REMAIN NEUTRAL R MADHAVAN'S ROMANTIC DRAMA GETS RELEASE DATE R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh's upcoming film Aap Jaisa Koi has finally got a release date. P4 Pargat Singh also requested media, known as fourth pillar of democracy, to also play a neutral role. P2 » HILLANG WINS TOP PRIZE AT BODYBUILDING CHAMPIONSHIP Yajik became first woman athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to win a gold in physique sports at int’l event. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 22°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.26 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:21 AM WEDNESDAY | 18 JUNE 2025 | LUDHIANA Intense fight: Voters to seal candidates’ fate tomorrow LUDHIANA (W) BYPOLL Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 17 The campaigning comes to an end on Tuesday, giving respite to all from hectic activities for the upcoming Ludhiana West byelection on June 19. There has been an intense fight among all candidates belonging to main political parties, including the Congress, AAP BJP and SAD. , CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Sunil Jakhar, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Sukhbir Badal, Bikram Majithia, Raja Warring, Partap Bajwa, etc, had visited the city to bat for their respective party candidates as the seat has become a prestige for all parties. The campaign saw some barbs exchanged between the BJP AAP Congress and SAD. , , While opposition leaders targeted the AAP government in the state over “failed” promises and “rampant corruption”, accusing the ruling party of reaping a “crop of corruption” in the state, the Congress and BJP talked about alleged mafias and sacrilege incidents. The SAD exhorted people to vote for the regional party. However, the ruling AAP sought votes on the development plank while prom- CONSTITUENCY PROFILE Total voters Male Female Third gender NRI voters Male Female Young voters Male Female Third gender 1,74,437 89,602 84,825 10 17 09 08 2,896 1,587 1,308 1 Polling stations 194 Locations 66 Voters aged 80 years and above 2,039 Male 1,087 Female 952 Service voters 100 Male 82 Female 18 Differently abled voters: 1,234 Male 662 Female 572 Third gender No Candidates in fray: Fourteen ALL SET FOR D-DAY All arrangements have been put in place to conduct a free, fair, smooth, transparent and peaceful byelection to the Ludhiana West Assembly constituency. We have constituted several committees of officials at the district and Assembly segment levels to ensure media certification and monitoring, vehicle management, expenditure monitoring, video viewing, accounting, static surveillance and flying squads to ensure strict implementation of the poll code. – Himanshu Jain, DC-CUM-DEO ❝ ising a Cabinet berth to Arora following his election. It also chided the opposition parties for running a negative campaign and highlighted the “checkered past” of Ashu while reminding voters of corruption charges against the Congress heavyweight. Senior BJP leaders also raised the issue of national security, mentioning Operation Sindoor against Pak- ❞ istan. More recently, they brought up the 1984-antiSikh riots’ issue. They termed poverty as the “product of the Congress”. The contrary stand of the Congress and AAP which were part , of the INDIA Bloc, in Punjab and outside, also triggered a fresh war of words between Congress, AAP and BJP leaders. Confident candidates The candidates, Sanjeev Arora, Jiwan Gupta, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Parupkar Singh Ghuman, seem confident of their respective win this time on the basis of which they are promising moon to the local electorate. However, the SAD is focusing its campaign against national political parties while urging the voters to give them a chance to serve and get rid of the grand old parties and their leaders, whom they accused of “doing nothing” during their repeated stints in Delhi. Independents and those from lesser known local parties are also doing their bit to win over the electorate in the urban seat. Ashu wraps up campaign with roadshow Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 17 Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Tuesday wrapped up his campaign with gratitude and confidence ahead of the June 19 byelection. He wrapped up his campaign with a massive roadshow with thousands of participants, which passed through different localities of the constituency. All senior party leaders, including AICC general secretary in-charge Bhupesh Bhagel, PPCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Charanjit Singh Channi and Rana Gurjeet, participated in the roadshow. In a message to the people after completion of the campaigning, Ashu said he was overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from all sections of society. “I have won two elections in 2012 and 2017 with record margins but I never felt so confident as I am feel- Cong candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu takes out a roadshow in Ludhiana on Tuesday. HIMANSHU MAHHAJAN ing today,” he said while pointing out that the people joined his campaign despite so much pressure and intimidation by the government. Ashu, who is also the Punjab Congress working president, sounded a note of caution to the police and the administra- tion against following any illegal diktats of the government. He said: “The ruling AAP will try its level best to use all unfair means to influence voters. “Whenever any such thing comes to your notice, sound the team in the office and we will take care and not allow any such thing to happen”, he said. The senior Congress leader appealed to all people of Ludhiana West to participate in the festival of democracy wholeheartedly by coming out of their homes to cast vote. Big fights Arora, Gupta and Ashu are heading for a close contest in the Ludhiana West bypoll while Ghuman seems to be making up for the lost ground of his party. Key Issues Unemployment, traffic congestion, drugs, sacrilege, plight of farmers, traders, industrialists, inflation, deteriorating law-and-order situation and unkept poll promises. All set Polling parties will leave for their respective destinations on Wednesday. The polling will be held on Thursday. AAP candidate releases ‘vision document for better Ludhiana’ Ludhiana, June 17 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll Sanjeev Arora (Rajya Sabha MP) has released a `vision document for a better Ludhiana’. Arora, who is a businessman, philanthropist and a first-time candidate, while describing his ‘VISION’ stated that `V’ stands for `vital infrastructure and public services’. Top priority, as identified by 39 per cent of the residents, is to fix potholes and finish reconstructing damaged roads within 100 days, solve waterloggingrelated issues, ensure 24x7 clean drinking water supply in all areas, improve public transport system for reducing traffic congestion and installing new transformers and upgrading the transmission system for better electricity supply. He said `I’ stands for `inclusive safety measures’. The second most voted concern for 35 per cent of the residents was to instal CCTV cameras and streetlights at required locations and form continued on page 2 ‘No flying zone’ on June 19 Ludhiana, June 17 District Magistrate Himanshu Jain has declared a No flying zone within the limits of the district till the completion of the poll process to maintain law and order. In this regard, flying of any kind of drone, etc, will be prohibited. The order has been issued in exercise of the powers vested under the BNSS. The CP and SSP Ludhiana (Rural)/Khanna will be responsible for implementing the order. — TNS Candidates cross fingers as campaigning comes to a close Shivani Bhakoo/ Nikhil Bhardwaj/ Sukhmeet Bhasin Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 17 ‘Nerves running high’ is the exact condition of political parties, their candidates, voters and supporters in the Ludhiana West constituency, where hectic campaigning ended on Tuesday. Leaving no stone unturned, the lastminute efforts are being made by all candidates to woo the voters as for all of them, it’s a do-or-die situation. For them, the time is not far to bear fruit for the hard efforts they made in the past over two-three months. As the campaigning comes to an end, The Tribune asks these candidates a few quick questions, particularly about their campaigning, experiences with voters, challenges in the constituency and advantages, which will make them stand apart. The candidates talk about real issues during the election, their plans to deal with them and how optimistic they are about the victory. CONGRESS CANDIDATE BHARAT BHUSHAN ASHU What were real issues during this election? The law and order has completely deteriorated. Criminals have no fear of law. Nobody is feeling safe. Civic amenities have gone for a toss. Just see for yourself the state of affairs of how garbage is littered on roads. It was not like that three years ago when we were there. Besides, vendetta and victimisation of our party workers and leaders were major issues. How do you plan to resolve the same? It is not the Chief Minister or ministers who do the work. It is officials who are supposed to do the job. I have a great experience of thirty years, most of it while being in the Opposition, as a public representative. I never faced any difficulty getting things done. Officials do respect public representatives. It depends on how you deal with them. You need to have a vision and people are there to support and cooperate with you, irrespective of which party you belong to. Why should people vote for you? I believe that I have gained credibility and earned the trust of people over the past three decades having been with them and for them. Our people know how I work. You won’t find anyone in Ludhiana or elsewhere who will tell you that Ashu refused to help him or wanted to know which party the person belonged to. I belong to the Congress, but as a public representative I belong to everyone. How much are you sure about your win? As sure and certain as the rising of the sun in the morning. This is my seventh personal election I am fighting. Besides, I have helped others also. I can feel the pulse of people. There has been an overwhelming outpouring of support for me. Now, people of Ludhiana West are in the best position to judge me. They have seen me and they have seen others. I leave it to them with faith, confidence and trust that they will support me this time. What were your challenges and advantages during this byelection? There are always multiple chal- support, I am confident we will achieve a resounding mandate to serve and transform our constituency.” Bharat Bhushan Ashu Parupkar S Ghuman lenges during elections, particularly the byelection when the entire government paraphernalia is working against you. The government resorted to blunt and shameless vindictiveness and vendetta against me and supporters. One of my colleagues was slapped with an FIR and thankfully he got the bail. I was summoned with clear intention to be arrested. Later, the government backed out as it boomeranged on them. But let me add, along with the challenges, I have got immense support and love from people. Those challenges seemed nothing with the support I have got from friends, colleagues, workers and everyone. SAD CANDIDATE PARUPKAR SINGH GHUMAN What were real issues during this election? “During this election, we witnessed critical challenges that strike at the heart of our democracy. Misuse of money and muscle power continues to distort the will of the people, with reports of excessive campaign spending undermining fairness. Economic distress, particularly unemployment and inflation, weighed heavily on voters, especially our youth. A critical challenge was the rival Sanjeev Arora parties’ relentless campaign to lure voters with fake promises of development and progress, eroding trust in the electoral system. These issues, rooted in systemic flaws, demand urgent reform to restore trust in our democratic institutions.” How do you plan to resolve the same? I am committed to a clear roadmap for reform. A cornerstone of my strategy is empowering voters with knowledge to see through deception and make informed choices. It will help tackle Rival parties’ fake promises of development and progress, alongside systemic challenges such as money power, transparency deficits and economic distress. I will champion policies to create sustainable jobs for our youth and tackle inflation through targeted welfare schemes. To unite our society, I will promote inclusive governance that transcends caste and religion, fostering policies that uplift every community. My legal expertise and dedication to justice will drive these changes, ensuring a stronger, fairer democracy. Why should people vote for you? People should vote for me c m y b Jiwan Gupta because I stand for integrity, justice, and the common citizen. As an advocate, I have spent my career fighting for the rights of the marginalized and holding the powerful accountable. Unlike others swayed by money or muscle, my campaign is driven by a vision of inclusive progress— jobs for our youth, dignity for our farmers, and unity for our nation. I bring a fresh perspective, untainted by political dynasties or criminal affiliations, and a commitment to transparent governance. Your vote for me is a vote for a leader who listens, acts, and delivers, ensuring your voice is heard in the halls of power. How much are you sure about your win? I am optimistic about our victory because it is not just mine — it belongs to the people who yearn for change. The overwhelming support I received from voters across communities, coupled with our grassroots campaign built on trust and transparency, gives me immense confidence. While I respect the democratic process and every voter’s choice, I am certain that our message of justice, unity and progress resonates strongly. With your continued What were your challenges and advantages during this byelection? Challenges we faced were formidable. Competing against entrenched political machines backed by vast financial resources and muscle power was daunting. As a newcomer, breaking through the dominance of established parties required tireless effort. However, our advantages were even greater. My legal background and reputation for integrity gave voters a trusted alternative. Our grassroots campaign, powered by dedicated volunteers and genuine public support, connected directly with the people. The growing demand for clean politics and accountable leadership aligned perfectly with our vision. Most importantly, the faith of voters in our commitment to justice and progress was our biggest strength, propelling us forward in this historic election. AAP CANDIDATE SANJEEV ARORA What were real issues during the byelection? As I have been with voters in the constituency for long as compared to others, I feel key issues include roads and public transport, crime and safety, cleanliness, drinking water, youth employment and the menace of stray dogs. For all these, I would need the support of my voters, they can see a seachange in the constituency if they put trust in Sanjeev Arora. How do you plan to resolve the same? I have already resolved many issues and remaining issues will also be resolved with a visionary approach. On Tuesday, I have released a vision document for the particular constituency and it covers all aspects and issues. I am fully committed to the voters in the constituency. Why should people vote for you? I bring with me a proven track record, vision and intent to deliver. I have shown real work for development of the city in the past three years. How much are you sure about your win? I’m confident of winning as I have got a lot of response from Ludhiana resdients during my 100-day election campaign. I hope the response I got from people will convert into votes. What were your challenges and advantages during this byelection? I feel grateful for the strong backing I’ve received from friends and family. Residents of Ludhiana (West) have shown great warmth and support, making the journey smoother. Rather than challenges, it was great to serve the people and getting their works done. I get internal satisfaction when I saw smile on faces of people whose work were done. BJP CANDIDATE JIWAN GUPTA What were real issues during this byelection? The real issue was poor law and order situation, running away from poll promises by the present government and candidate accused in corruption in fray and development of Ludhiana has been lying halted in the past three-and-a half years. How do you plan to resolve the same? To resolve these issues, it is required to make Punjab free from cobweb and to do it is required to bring the BJP in the state. As double engine governments in other states are progressing at a high pace. Why people should vote for you? People have given chance to all parties like the Congress, AAP and SAD, now people have high hopes from the BJP that as the BJP-led governments have delivered good governance in other states, it would deliver here in Punjab as well. What were your challenges and advantages during the byelection? My main challenge was I got only 14 days to campaign, where other parties candidates got three months to campaign. My challenge was to reach out to all 1.74 lakh voters in Ludhiana West so I was telling people here that if you all like my vision, they should support me. People are giving me support with a hope that I and the BJP will deliver in the constituency. How much are you sure about your win? I'm sure about my win as people are liking our party's development agenda. Residents of the constituency have become my power and they are only fighting this election. People have faith in me as they started joining me in large numbers.