Kejriwal hails Ludhiana win as mandate for AAP work

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the Ludhiana West assembly bypoll win is a clear endorsement by the people of Punjab for the developmental work carried out by the Bhagwant Mann-led government over the past three years.Addressing a 'Dhanwad Sabha' in Ludhiana to thank voters for their support, Kejriwal said, “This victory is not just a poll result, it is a certificate from the people. They have appreciated the work of the AAP government on education, healthcare, roads, electricity, and the war against drugs.”AAP’s candidate Sanjeev Arora defeated Congress nominee Bharat Bhushan Ashu by over 10,000 votes in the June 19 by-election, which was held after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January,according to information.

#WATCH: Ludhiana, Punjab: As AAP wins Ludhiana Bypoll in Punjab, AAP state president Aman Arora says, "To thank all the people, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, CM Bhagwant Mann, Manish Sisodia, and the whole leadership of AAP have come here... As everyone said, this is the… pic.twitter.com/VUzPvSprJg

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Kejriwal took a sharp swipe at both the BJP and Congress, accusing them of abandoning real public issues and running a campaign solely on opposing his entry to the Rajya Sabha. “While we focus on improving schools, hospitals, and basic services, they keep spreading rumours,” he said. “I have already clarified — I am not going to the Rajya Sabha.”
The AAP chief also alleged that both national parties had “joined hands” in Delhi and were now trying the same tactics in Punjab and Gujarat. Citing the AAP’s recent victory in Gujarat’s Visavadar bypoll, where their candidate won by more than 17,000 votes in a BJP stronghold, Kejriwal said the BJP responded by arresting an AAP MLA “out of political vendetta.”
“These bypolls in Ludhiana and Visavadar are the semi-finals. The finals will be in 2027. And I am confident the people will elect AAP governments in both Punjab and Gujarat with a massive majority,” he asserted.On the drug menace in Punjab, Kejriwal said previous Congress and Akali-BJP regimes were responsible for ruining the state’s youth. “Our government has declared war on drugs. We are arresting drug peddlers and cleaning up the system,” he said.Highlighting achievements in education, Kejriwal noted that Punjab has jumped from 29th to the top position in the national education rankings since 2017. He said over 8,000 government schools have been upgraded with new infrastructure, including boundary walls, toilets, and security personnel. “Earlier children sat on mats; now they sit on desks. This is the transformation,” he said.
Kejriwal mocked the opposition for belittling AAP’s focus on basic amenities. “They laughed when we inaugurated toilets. Now people are asking  what did you do in 75 years? They know we have done more in three years than others did in seven decades,” he said.He also announced that the Mann government will soon introduce a strict law against sacrilege and questioned whether the Congress would support it or wait for BJP’s approval first. “Congress leaders do nothing without the BJP's nod,” he alleged.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also addressed the gathering and lashed out at opposition parties, saying both Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal were struggling for political survival.“They can't even form basic 11- or 21-member committees. Their condition reflects the public’s rejection,” Mann said.He reiterated his vision for Punjab: “I don't want to turn Punjab into California or London. I want to make it a strong, self-reliant state built on the strength of its people.”