Mann and Kejriwal launch Ludhiana West bypoll campaign

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal kicked off the campaign for the Ludhiana West bypoll on Monday. They held public meetings in Jawahar Nagar Camp and Haibowal, seeking support from the community. AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora, a Rajya Sabha member, joined them in their efforts. The bypolls were called after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi Bassi, who died in an accident on January 10. During the rallies, Kejriwal criticized past administrations for corruption and neglect. He claimed that no other chief minister had the courage to ask the people for feedback on government performance. Kejriwal accused opposition parties, including Congress, BJP, and Akali Dal, of exploiting Punjab's resources. He assured the audience that real change was coming under AAP’s leadership. The AAP plans to improve local infrastructure, including roads and civic amenities, as part of their campaign. Mann defended AAP's governance, claiming there has been no corruption during their time in power. He highlighted ongoing efforts to address long-standing civic issues. In support of local education, Arora announced a ₹10 lakh grant for a government school in Haibowal. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu challenged AAP to show their achievements before asking for votes. He criticized the party for not fulfilling promises, such as financial support for women. A former BJP leader also accused AAP of misleading the public regarding drug issues and unfulfilled commitments. In a related protest, victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots demanded to meet CM Mann. They accused security personnel of mistreating them and expressed frustration over being ignored for three years. They vowed to hold the government accountable for their unaddressed concerns.