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India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
BJP's bypoll reality check: Central ambitions need stronger local groundwork
The June 23 verdict of the assembly bypolls has come as a warning bell for the BJP, signalling how the party's state machineries are grappling to keep pace with the central leadership's four corners of the country—Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and Kerala—the bypolls offered the BJP a chance to test its mettle, and offered valuable lessons, albeit learnt the hard way. The results show the BJP will need to quickly strengthen its base in Punjab, Bengal and Kerala—the latter two states going to assembly polls next Punjab's Ludhiana West seat, the bypoll defeat was a lesson in timing and focus. Jiwan Gupta, whose candidature was announced rather late, was launched into a campaign already defined by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) versus Congress agenda. Gupta failed to carve out space for himself. The contest quickly turned into a direct clash between the ruling AAP's Sanjeev Arora and Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, shaped as much by ideology as local hamstrung by a delayed announcement and a slowofftheblocks campaign, could neither break into that agenda nor benefit from the massive factionalism consuming the Congress in the state. It's a lost opportunity for the BJP, and the party has its own mismanagement to blame. The victorious AAP, with its sharply-defined messaging and wellentrenched ground campaign, turned BJP's disarray to its BJP-ruled Gujarat offered its own paradox. The party retained its grip on Kadi, with candidate Rajendra Chavda relying on deep ground connections and a long record of delivery. Yet, just a few hundred kilometres away, in Visavadar, the BJP was punished for complacency. Its candidate, Kirit Patel, failed to rally the Patidar against AAP's Gopal Italia, a candidate adept at converting caste pride into a rallying point, the BJP discovered that caste loyalty can no longer be taken for granted, especially when combined with an energetic campaign. Visavadar showed Gujarat's electoral terrain may well be shifting a bit: the BJP can still win with trusted names and its strong ground game, but the decades of statewide dominance could be tested at every step from here Kaliganj seat revealed the limits of identitycentric campaigns. Candidate Ashish Ghosh had framed the race as a test of religious assertion, trying to rally Hindu voters in a state long accustomed to the BJP's polarising tactics. However, Alifa Ahmed and her Trinamool Congress (TMC) presented a counternarrative rooted in inclusion and deep local connections. The margin of defeat, combined with a noticeable erosion of the BJP's vote-share, reflected how communal lines can harden core bases while failing to win over sceptical or fence-sitting Nilambur seat told its own story. The BJP experimented with Mohan George, an attempt to connect with the Christian community. The campaign was cautious, lowkey, relying more on quiet overtures than overt displays of strength. The result was instructive: breakthroughs in such terrain require deep, sustained groundwork, not tactical gestures confined to a single election in all, these results are more than a set of individual defeats and victories. They signal shifts in the ground that the BJP is fighting upon. In state after state, the party discovered that its central narratives—nationalism, identity, promise of bigticket development—can only carry it so far if the local campaign fails to adapt. The Punjab result, in particular, is a lesson in candidate choices and campaign timing, a reminder that discontent with an incumbent government may not always be a recipe for electoral the BJP, the bypoll verdict was a dipstick test of its organisational discipline and ability to read the mood on the ground in four states. The results show the party can no longer win by assuming that its state units can coast on the momentum generated by Delhi. In an era where every seat is contested like a minigeneral election, the BJP must rediscover the precision, urgency and resonance that brought it to national dominance in the first to India Today Magazine- Ends
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BJP fails to replicate Lok Sabha success in Ludhiana West bypoll
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured over 45,000 votes from the Ludhiana West segment in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election, couldn't even hold on to half the votes in the byelection, the results for which were declared on Monday. The party's vote share fell by more than 55% as compared to the 2024 general election. (Gurpreet Singh/HT) The party's candidate Ravneet Bittu scored an impressive 45,424 votes in the Lok Sabha election last June. Congress candidate Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who had won the Lok Sabha seat, was a distant second in the segment with 30,889 votes. Expecting to translate the performance into a victory in the bypoll, the party fielded heavy weights like Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Anurag Thakur, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Haryana CM Nayab Saini and Punjab BJP head Sunil Jakhar in the campaign. Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, who died in the Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, had camped in Ludhiana and planned the campaign. Despite all this, party candidate Jiwan Gupta could secure only 20,323 votes, finishing third. BJP district president Rajnish Dhiman attributed the relatively poor performance to two factors. First, he claimed, was the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led state government throwing all its weight in the bypoll. It is being speculated that the bypoll was of critical importance to the AAP as it plans to send party supremo Arvind Kejriwal to Rajya Sabha by freeing the seat occupied by Sanjeev Arora, who has now been elected the new MLA from Ludhiana West. Kejriwal is expected to be nominated to Rajya Sabha from Punjab as Arora resigns from his seat. Second, the local BJP leader argued there was a difference in the nature of the elections. 'The Lok Sabha poll were fought on national agenda with issues like the Ram Mandir at the heart of the campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' he said. He argued that it was those national issues and Narendra Modi as the PM which had driven the party's domineering performance in the segment in the Lok Sabha elections. The bypoll, he claimed, was 'too local' in comparison to Lok Sabha to be comparable. While accepting the people's decision, BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta also took pot shots at the state government and alleged that it 'abused' the administrative system to win the bypoll. He pointed out that while at some polling booths the turnout was very low and at others clocked 65%-70% votes. 'At one booth only 465 votes were cast, and 412 of these went to AAP,' he said, alleging discrepancy.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP defeat: Bittu takes blame
Ludhiana: Union minister of state for railways and food processing Ravneet Singh Bittu on Monday took responsibility for the BJP's defeat in the Ludhiana West byelection, even as he praised party candidate Jiwan Gupta for putting on a strong fight and securing over 20,000 votes. Bittu congratulated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Sanjeev Arora on his victory and expressed hope that he would deliver on promises made to the people of the constituency Bittu admitted to the delay in finalising a BJP candidate being a key factor for the party's loss. "The announcement of Jiwan Gupta's ticket was delayed as the party leadership was engaged with the Operation Sindhoor campaign. This hampered our campaign planning and visibility," he said. Bittu also pointed out that the low voter turnout of just 51.3% reflected lack of public interest in the election, particularly towards the ruling party. "Out of nearly 90,000 votes cast, the AAP candidate managed only around 35,000 votes. This clearly indicates that anti-AAP sentiment in the constituency is much stronger than the mandate they received," he said. Calling the BJP's performance "encouraging", Bittu said the byelection result should not be viewed as a setback. "This is not a defeat for the BJP. The people gave AAP a chance only because their govt still has around two years remaining. In the 2027 assembly elections, we are confident of winning this seat with a significant margin," he said. Bittu urged BJP workers not to be disheartened and continue their efforts on the ground. "We will get another opportunity in 2027, and we will come back stronger," Bittu said. MSID:: 122025192 413 |
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP, SAD candidates in Ludhiana West express confidence as parties await results on June 23.
Ludhiana: Now that the fate of candidates contesting the Ludhiana West bypoll is sealed in the EVMs, all eyes are on June 23, when counting will take place and the constituency will get its new MLA. However, for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the outcome of this bypoll could shape their prospects for the 2027 assembly elections. On polling day, both parties' candidates — Jiwan Gupta (BJP) and Parupkar Singh Ghumman (SAD) — were seen calm and composed. They even shared smiles and a cup of tea, expressing confidence in the voters of the West constituency. Still, party leaders are well aware that their future in Punjab politics may hinge on this result. Perhaps this is why they kept urging residents to step out and vote, especially as voter turnout remained low through the day. The BJP leadership, not just from Punjab but also from Haryana, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh, actively campaigned in support of Jiwan Gupta. Throughout the campaign, they consistently targeted the ruling party over its unfulfilled promises to the people of Punjab. While the BJP secured a decent vote share in the 2022 assembly and 2024 parliamentary elections, its recent performance in the municipal corporation polls was underwhelming, winning only 2 out of 17 wards in the West constituency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doutor: Manter a massa muscular após os 50 anos depende deste hábito noturno Revista do Homem Saiba Mais Undo According to party insiders, the BJP managed to win this assembly seat during the Lok Sabha elections only when their candidate crossed the 45,000-vote mark. The leadership remains hopeful that, this time too, voters — disillusioned with both Congress and AAP — will give the BJP another chance. The BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta claimed that bypoll results will be in their favour and they will win the elections after results are announced on June 23. He said people would vote with renewed hope for the development of their area. Claiming confidence in the outcome, he added that he was visiting polling booths where party workers were assisting voters in locating their names andkeeping a check on the voting process. Everything, he asserted, was going in their favour. Meanwhile, for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), questions are being raised over whether the party can repeat the success of past bypolls of 1995, when Manpreet Badal defeated the Congress govt in Gidderbaha, or in 2019, when Manpreet Ayali triumphed in the Dakha bypoll, again against the Congress. Party president Sukhbir Badal camped in the city for over two weeks, holding one-on-one meetings with party workers and voters to galvanize support. The SAD candidate also showed full confidence and claimed that people will cast vote in his favour, as they have decided to oust the AAP from Punjab, with this bypoll as its beginning. MSID:: 121955652 413 |
Hindustan Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana West bypoll: Haryana CM rakes up water sharing dispute, AAP hits back
Ludhiana Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, during his campaign in Ludhiana West, accusing it of betraying the teachings of the Sikh gurus by blocking drinking water to Haryana. Saini, who was here to campaign for party candidate Jiwan Gupta, said AAP is playing politics over the issues of water and farmers, instead of solving them. 'The AAP government refused to release Haryana's rightful share of drinking water from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Punjab is the land of the great Gurus who always taught that no one should be denied water. But today, this government is denying us drinking water. Haryana and Punjab are like brothers, why play politics in the name of water?' he questioned, terming AAP's opposition to sharing water as a betrayal of Punjab's spiritual values. Saini also claimed that the people of Punjab opposed AAP for stopping water to Haryana. The CM also accused AAP of misleading the public on farmers' issues. 'While the Haryana BJP government has provided minimum support price (MSP) for all crops and continues to support farmers with subsidies, the AAP government has used force and lathi charge against farmers. AAP only uses the name of farmers to gain sympathy but does nothing substantial for their welfare,' he said. The controversy erupted on April 28 when the Haryana government's demand for additional water from the Bhakra Dam was approved by the BBMB despite opposition from Punjab. The Punjab government refused to accept the decision and deployed police at Nangal dam, 13km downstream from Bhakra, to stop the additional water release. Later the matter reached the high court which disposed of the matter on May 26, while the fresh water sharing cycle started on May 21. Saini also hit out at AAP's anti-drug campaign, calling them a 'drama' meant to divert attention from the government's failures. 'These actions are more about grabbing headlines than actual results,' Saini said. Slamming both AAP and Congress, Saini said the people of Punjab were first let down by Congress and now by AAP. 'For five years, Congress fooled the people, and now, for the past three and a half years, AAP has done the same,' he said. The Haryana CM then drew comparisons between Punjab and Haryana in terms of central government scheme implementation. He said that under BJP rule, Haryana has successfully implemented schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, PM Krishi Yojana, and Ujjwala Yojana. 'In contrast, these benefits are yet to reach the people of Punjab,' he added, urging the voters of Ludhiana West to give the BJP a chance. He said BJP's candidate Jiwan Gupta would win the bypoll as 'people are angry with both AAP and Congress and want change. They want good governance, and that is what BJP stands for.' No extra water to give: Bains Cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains slammed the Haryana CM's remarks and said he pressured the BBMB to divert Punjab waters. 'It was a conspiracy to deprive Punjab of its rightful water share. Saini had pressured the BBMB to unfairly divert Punjab's water, and AAP exposed this,' Bains alleged. He further clarified that under previous governments, Punjab lacked proper canal irrigation coverage. 'However, under CM Bhagwant Mann, canal water has reached over 65% of Punjab's agricultural land and thus we have no extra water to give to other states,' Bains added. Embed Saini faces protest Ludhiana CM Nayab Singh Saini, who arrived in the city to campaign for the BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta, was met with a group of protesters who accused him of attempting to deprive Punjab of its rightful share of river water. The protesters raised slogans near Sherpur Chowk and alleged that Haryana was trying to usurp water allocated to Punjab, affecting the state's agriculture and groundwater levels. Saini, while mentioning the protests, claimed it to be stage managed by Congress and AAP. 'Congress and AAP jointly staged several protests against me in Haryana too and it is nothing more than a political gimmick. The people of Haryana have rejected Congress and AAP for their cheap political tactics,' Saini said.
