Delayed Candidate Announcement a Setback, But BJP Ready to Push Hard in Ludhiana (West): Sunil Jakhar
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Monday acknowledged that the party could have gained ground in the Ludhiana (West) Assembly bypoll had it announced its candidate earlier. He made the statement while accompanying BJP nominee Jiwan Gupta during the filing of his nomination papers for the June 19 by-election.
“Candidates from other parties began campaigning much earlier. Now, the BJP must intensify its efforts to catch up,” Jakhar said. He explained the delay in announcing the candidate, attributing it to the party's national leadership being preoccupied with issues such as Operation Sindoor.
Despite the late start, Jakhar expressed confidence in the BJP’s ability to make up for lost time. Notably, the BJP was the last among major parties to name its candidate for the bypoll, which is being held in a constituency with a significant Hindu voter base.
Jakhar’s return to active campaigning—after months of staying away from party events—has given a boost to Gupta’s campaign. His presence is seen as a unifying force amid reports of internal factionalism within the state BJP, with multiple camps reportedly lobbying for different candidates ahead of the nomination.
Taking aim at political opponents, Jakhar asserted that the BJP's real contest is with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), not the Congress, which he described as a "divided house." He said he had even advised Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a personal friend, to be wary of internal sabotage.
“Both Congress and AAP candidates are surrounded by backstabbers,” Jakhar claimed. “The BJP needs to stay focused on its development agenda instead of worrying about them.”
Meanwhile, BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta declared assets worth ₹1.20 crore jointly with his wife in his nomination papers.
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