By Satinder Bains
LUDHIANA, June 23: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) faced a severe blow in the Ludhiana West by-election, as its candidate Advocate Parupkar Singh Ghuman managed to secure only 8203 votes, finishing a distant fourth and losing his security deposit—a symbolic and strategic defeat that is likely to intensify infighting within the party and cast doubts on SAD's future electoral prospects under the leadership of Sukhbir Singh Badal.
The by-election, held for the seat vacated after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi, saw AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora emerge victorious with 35, 801 votes, defeating Congress’ Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who polled 30, 264 votes. BJP’s debutant Jeewan Gupta, despite a delayed ticket announcement, performed well with 20, 267 votes, surprising many political observers and cutting into AAP’s urban support base.
In stark contrast, SAD’s dismal performance reflects a deepening disconnect with the urban electorate and highlights the party's struggle to regain relevance, especially in urban constituencies like Ludhiana West which were once its strongholds.
The defeat is particularly embarrassing for SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had hoped the by-election would mark the beginning of his party's revival. Instead, it has provided ammunition to his critics within the party. The rival faction—which has long questioned Sukhbir’s leadership and political strategy—now sees this outcome as validation of their concerns, including accusations of aloofness, poor candidate selection, and a lack of grassroots connect.
Parupkar Singh Ghuman, a first-time candidate and practicing lawyer with a clean image, was seen as a fresh face. However, his campaign failed to gain traction amid SAD’s waning influence in urban Punjab and lingering anger over the party's controversial past—particularly its alliance with the BJP during the farm laws agitation and various governance issues when it was in power.
Political analysts believe that SAD’s failure to reinvent itself and reconnect with urban voters, particularly the trading community and middle class, has left it adrift. The inability to capitalize on anti-incumbency against AAP in this seat only underscores the party’s declining organizational strength.
Renewed Buzz Around SAD-BJP Alliance
The by-poll outcome has also reignited speculation about the possibility of a SAD-BJP alliance ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. While the two parties had severed ties in 2020 over the contentious farm laws, both have fared poorly in Punjab since then. SAD has been steadily losing ground in both rural and urban areas, while the BJP continues to struggle to establish a firm base in the state despite aggressive campaigning and support from the Centre.
Sources within both parties confirm that informal backchannel talks have occurred, especially in light of their shared ideological base and mutual decline in electoral relevance. However, any formal alliance would face stiff resistance from farmers' groups and sections of the Sikh electorate, who still associate the SAD-BJP combine with betrayal over agrarian issues.
If SAD and BJP were to consider reviving their partnership, they would need to present a completely new political narrative, acknowledge past missteps, and rebuild trust with core voter segments. For now, though, both parties appear to be weighing their options, as Punjab’s political landscape remains highly fluid.
Conclusion
The Ludhiana West result is not just a routine by-election outcome—it is a referendum on SAD’s future direction and Sukhbir Singh Badal’s leadership. With party morale hitting a new low and internal factions gaining confidence, the road to revival looks steeper than ever for Punjab’s oldest regional party. Whether this defeat prompts meaningful introspection or leads to further fragmentation remains to be seen.