CHANDIGARH: Bharat Bhushan Ashu Senior Vice President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today resigned from his post after facing defeat in Ludhiana by-election by a margin of over 10, 000 votes.
Ashu was over confident to win the election at his own. He reported to have taken the support of a group of Congress opposed to PPCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. He was surrounded by former CM Charanjit Singh Channi and former minister Rana Gurjit Singh who assured Ashu of victory. The defeat is considered a major setback for Congress and Ashu who was looking to replace Raja Warring if he wins the election.
Ashu didn't invite Raja Warring and local leaders like Simarjit Singh Bains for campaigning. Both Raja Warring and Bains had pointed out that they were not given any task to perform in the election. They said that they had attended the events where they were invited.
Ashu was defeated by AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora MP Rajya Sabha with a margin of 10637 votes. Arora was polled 35179 votes and Ashu got 24542 votes. BJP candidate Jeewan Gupta was polled 20323 votes.