Mon Jun 23 06:30:00 UTC 2025: ## AAP Scores Big Wins in Punjab and Gujarat Bypolls, Sparking Comeback Talk
**Ludhiana/Visavadar -** The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has secured significant victories in the recent by-elections for the Ludhiana West Assembly seat in Punjab and the Visavadar Assembly seat in Gujarat, injecting fresh momentum into the party’s political ambitions. The wins are being viewed as a potential turning point for AAP, especially after the party lost power in Delhi five months ago.
In Ludhiana West, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora emerged victorious, defeating Congress candidate and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi. Arora garnered 35,144 votes, while Ashu received 24,510. The BJP’s Jeevan Gupta and Akali Dal’s Paropkar Singh trailed behind with 20,299 and 8,198 votes respectively. Arvind Kejriwal had pledged a ministerial position for Arora in the Bhagwant Mann government if he won the seat.
Meanwhile, in Gujarat’s Visavadar constituency, AAP’s Gopal Italia secured a decisive win against BJP’s Kirit Patel. Italia secured 75,942 votes to Patel’s 58,388, with Congress’s Nitin Ranpariya finishing a distant third. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani, who defected to the BJP in December 2023.
However, AAP faced a setback in the Kadi seat of Mehsana district, where BJP’s Rajendra Chawda emerged victorious. Congress’s Ramesh Chawda secured the second position, while AAP’s Jagdish Chawda trailed in third.
The victories in Ludhiana and Visavadar have ignited renewed enthusiasm within AAP, as the party gears up for the 2027 elections. The party faces the challenge of retaining power in Punjab while also aiming to expand its footprint in Gujarat, traditionally a BJP stronghold.
AAP leaders are portraying the Punjab victory as a “semi-final” win, with the final goal being the upcoming assembly elections. Following the results, AAP leaders took to social media, with Manish Sisodia tweeting, “Fantastic victory in the semi-final in Punjab. Now it’s time for the final!!”
Political analysts are suggesting that these by-election results signal a significant comeback for Arvind Kejriwal and his party, especially after recent setbacks. “Arvind Kejriwal has made a strong comeback in national politics by defeating BJP and Congress in the assembly by-election in Modi’s stronghold, Gujarat,” tweeted AAP leader Anurag Dhanda.
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