Ludhiana, June 6
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Neel Garg launched a scathing attack on Congress and its Ludhiana West by-election candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, accusing them of resorting to sympathy-driven theatrics to mislead the public. Garg highlighted how Ashu, who is embroiled in serious corruption charges involving thousands of crores, has been exposed for attempting to manipulate public sentiment instead of focusing on genuine issues.
In a statement, Neel Garg said, “The people of Ludhiana have outrightly rejected Bharat Bhushan Ashu, as they remember his arrogant behavior during his tenure as an MLA and minister. Even prominent Congress leaders such as Sukhjinder Randhawa, Raja Warring, and Pratap Bajwa have distanced themselves from Ashu and this election. It is evident that the Congress party, under the control of its Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, is attempting to script baseless sympathy narratives, as they lack credibility and trust among the people.”
Garg said that Ashu colluded with a vigilance SSP, a known associate from his ministerial tenure, to fabricate a summons to gain sympathy. “This gimmick was a desperate attempt to sway voters in Ludhiana West, but the truth has now come to light. The people of Ludhiana see through these antics and are firmly supporting AAP’s clean and development-oriented politics,” he added.
The AAP leader further accused Congress of indulging in theatrics under the guidance of Bhupesh Baghel, who has prior experience in using such tactics during elections in Chhattisgarh. “However, these strategies won’t work here. The vigilance case against Ashu is not a minor one—it involves massive corruption worth thousands of crores, and every individual responsible will be held accountable,” Garg asserted.
Highlighting AAP’s governance, Garg detailed the transformative work done under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership in Punjab over the past three and a half years. “Whether it’s providing free electricity, quality healthcare, or improving government schools to a level where students are making it to IITs, AAP’s work speaks for itself. From eradicating drug networks to building modern police infrastructure for road safety, our government has consistently delivered on its promises. The people of Punjab have embraced this progress, and Ludhiana West is no exception,” he said.
Garg also pointed out Congress’s desperation, stating, “Unable to match AAP’s people-centric governance, Congress is stooping to new lows. Their baseless antics are a clear indication of their panic as they face inevitable defeat.”
Calling for an issue-based election, Garg declared, “Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Congress must stop creating fabricated narratives. The people of Ludhiana West will give them a befitting response on June 19 by voting for AAP and reaffirming their trust in honest governance and development.”