By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: The Congress party’s defeat in the high-stakes Ludhiana West by-election has sparked an intense internal debate, with questions being raised about whether the loss was due to overconfidence of party candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu or deep-rooted factionalism within the Punjab Congress.
Ashu, a two-time MLA and former cabinet minister, was considered a strong contender and appeared confident of victory. However, his failure to secure a win has put a spotlight on the lack of cohesion in the party’s campaign. It is widely speculated that Ashu sidelined Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring during the campaign, despite Warring being present during the filing of nomination papers following a directive by AICC secretary and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel.
Instead, Ashu’s campaign was largely steered by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and ex-minister Rana Gurjit Singh—both known critics of Warring. The decision to rely heavily on one faction and ignore broader party leadership is being seen as a strategic misstep, especially in a by-election where party unity is critical.
In a post-result TV interview, Raja Warring expressed pain over the party’s loss, subtly attributing the defeat to overconfidence without naming Ashu directly. "Overconfidence was one of the reasons for the poor performance, " he remarked, adding, "It’s time for introspection. Unity in the party is the key to future victories. I campaigned wherever I was invited."
Corruption cases proved costly?
Though the High Court had given clean chit to Ashu in corruption cases registered by Punjab Vigilance Bureau, it seems the people of his constiruency have not forgiven him. The corruption charges might have proved costly to Congress party.
Warring emphasized that the by-election outcome should not be seen as a reflection of statewide sentiment, asserting that ruling parties usually have the upper hand in such contests. He also alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) used “all unfair means” to influence the vote.
He tried to rally the demoralized party cadre by pointing to BJP’s declining graph. “In the Lok Sabha elections, BJP secured over 45, 000 votes from this seat, which has now reduced to just around 20, 000. Their base is eroding rapidly, ” he said, citing BJP’s underwhelming performance in recent by-elections in Chabbewal, Barnala, and other segments.
Former MLA and Congress leader Simarjit Singh Bains also weighed in on the defeat, calling it “shocking” that Congress lost a seat where the party previously secured over 60, 000 votes. Bains claimed he fulfilled his duty as desired by the party high command but was sidelined during the campaign. “Ashu was my best friend before I joined Congress, but once I entered the campaign, he turned his face. I went to his house, but he didn’t even call me for support, ” Bains revealed.
He said that he was not given any specific task by the party during the campaign and highlighted the lack of coordination as a major factor in the defeat. “Arrogance and wisdom are enemies. Ashu should have used his wisdom, ” he said. Denying any backstabbing, Bains emphasized that unity was missing from the campaign and held Ashu responsible for his own loss due to arrogance. “Leaders who have no ground in the party are being promoted. They need to be shunted out, ” Bains added in a scathing remark.
For his part, Bharat Bhushan Ashu accepted the responsibility for the loss. “I take full responsibility. I received complete support from the party. Winning and losing are part of the democratic process, ” he stated in a brief comment.
The Ludhiana West result has served as a wake-up call for the Congress in Punjab, revealing fault lines that, if not addressed, could weaken the party further ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls. While AAP’s aggressive machinery delivered them another seat, the Congress now faces the task of rebuilding internal trust and cohesion to mount a serious challenge in the future.