Overview

• On June 19, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora won Ludhiana West by over 10,000 votes against Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu, while Gopal Italia secured Visavadar in Gujarat by about 17,000 votes over his BJP rival
• Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged a secret understanding between AAP and BJP in Ludhiana West to block Congress but offered no concrete evidence
• Arvind Kejriwal described the twin bypoll victories as a “semifinal” for the 2027 assembly elections, projecting the party on track to form governments in Punjab and Gujarat
• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced plans to expand his cabinet within days, promising Sanjeev Arora a ministerial berth in recognition of the Ludhiana West win
• The results mark a rebound for AAP after its February Delhi defeat, signaling growing support beyond the capital and mounting challenges for both Congress and BJP