Three resignations, widening rift: Ludhiana West loss leaves Punjab Congress ‘vertically split'
Three resignations, no word from the high command, and simmering discontent have left the Punjab Congress facing what senior leaders call a 'vertical split,' days after its defeat in the Ludhiana West bypoll.
Working president Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the Congress candidate who lost to AAP's Sanjeev Arora by over 10,000 votes, stepped down taking 'entire responsibility.' Soon after, MLAs Pargat Singh and Kushaldeep Singh Kikki Dhillon also resigned as PPCC vice-presidents in solidarity.
'Three of the eight PPCC executive members have resigned, including me,' Ashu told The Indian Express. 'I haven't asked if my resignation has been accepted. Bhupesh Baghel saab is yet to call a meeting.'
PPCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said, 'The resignations haven't come to me. They must have gone to the AICC. I went to campaign wherever I was called. I continue to fulfil my duties as PPCC president.'
AICC Punjab incharge Baghel, when contacted, said, 'I would not like to talk about Ludhiana bypoll results. It is our internal party matter.'
Missing faces, visible cracks
The internal fault lines between Warring and Ashu were visible throughout the campaign. Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, and several 'star campaigners' stayed away. Local Ludhiana leaders from Warring's camp were also absent.
Many told The Indian Express they were never invited. 'We were signalled our participation wasn't required,' said a local leader.
Among those missing were PPCC general secretary Captain Sandeep Sandhu, Ludhiana district urban president Sanjay Talwar, former MLAs Rakesh Pandey, Jassi Khangura, Surinder Dawar, ex-bureaucrat Kuldip Singh Vaid, former minister Malkit Singh Dakha, and Simarjeet and Balwinder Bains, who had supported Warring in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Star campaigners who skipped included Warring, Bajwa, Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Baghel, barring Ashu's nomination and conclusion events. Former MP Manish Tewari's programme was 'cancelled.'
Those who did campaign included Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh (bypoll incharge), Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Fatehgarh Sahib MP Dr Amar Singh, Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma and Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi.
The Ashu-Warring rift began during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when Warring — not a local face — was fielded from Ludhiana. Ashu, recently out on bail in a corruption case, was sidelined.
A former MLA said, 'Ashu said he didn't need us. We were all in Ludhiana on the final day of campaigning, but no invites came. Instead, leaders from other districts led the show.'
Randhawa confirmed, 'My name was on the list of star campaigners, but I never got a message. So I didn't go.'
Former MLA Jassi Khangura said, 'Ashu never asked me. We even went with Warring to meet him after his candidature was announced, but he didn't meet us. He allowed his campaign to be hijacked by outsiders.'
Ludhiana urban president Talwar, also absent, said, 'Each candidate has their own strategy. But this was a winnable seat, a Congress bastion, and we lost.'
Khaira said, 'Bypolls are usually won by ruling parties. But the high command must urgently resolve the rift before it's too late.'
Ashu maintained he never stopped anyone from campaigning. 'Everyone was welcome to campaign wherever they wanted. It was Warring's responsibility to come as state president,' he said.
Congress vote share in Ludhiana West: A steady slide
2012: 62.81%
2017: 54.86%
2022: 28.06%
2025: 27.22%
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