Ludhiana, July 8 — Declaring the recent Ludhiana West and Gujarat by-elections as the “semi-finals” for the 2027 general elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that the strong voter support in both states was a clear signal that AAP would form governments in Punjab and Gujarat with a “massive majority.”
“The love and trust shown by the people of Ludhiana and Gujarat prove that the country is ready for change. These victories are just the beginning,” Kejriwal said while addressing a “Dhanwad Sabha” (thanksgiving gathering) here, flanked by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and senior party leaders.
Referring to the Gujarat bypoll win where AAP’s candidate defeated the BJP by over 17,000 votes, Kejriwal called it a historic breakthrough in a state long considered a BJP stronghold. “They (BJP) couldn’t tolerate it. That’s why one of our MLAs was arrested. But we are not afraid. We will fight back with the truth,” he asserted.
Kejriwal also dismissed rumors about him heading to the Rajya Sabha, calling it a deliberate misinformation campaign. “Right after the election results, I made it absolutely clear in a press conference — I am not going to the Rajya Sabha. The opposition spread this lie to confuse voters,” he said.
He further accused the BJP and Congress of colluding to block AAP’s progress in Punjab. “They’re united only in their fear of AAP. They know their politics of loot and division is over,” he added.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann echoed Kejriwal’s tone, accusing rival parties — the Congress, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal — of exploiting religion, fostering division, and plundering Punjab’s resources. “The Congress and Akali Dal are now fighting for their political survival. They can’t even form basic 11- or 21-member committees,” Mann remarked.
Lauding improvements in education under the AAP government, Mann said, “In 2017, Punjab was ranked 29th in education. Today, we are number one — thanks to the efforts of our teachers, students, and reforms.”
He also cited a recent national-level survey involving 28,000 students across various subjects that placed Punjab at the top. “Our goal is to build a Punjab that is self-reliant, strong, and future-ready,” the chief minister said.
On the state’s proposed legislation against sacrilege, Kejriwal questioned whether the Congress would support the bill or continue playing politics. “Let’s see if they will stand with the people or with their own selfish interests,” he said.
Targeting opposition leaders, Mann singled out Union Minister Ravneet Bittu, Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi, and Akali Dal’s Bikram Singh Majithia, accusing them of shielding those responsible for Punjab’s drug crisis. “They once called Majithia’s arrest a mistake. Today, they’re apologising. Their collusion is evident,” Mann said.
He also announced a special session of the Punjab Assembly on July 10 and 11, promising it would expose what he called the “web of lies” spun by the opposition.
AAP leaders Aman Arora, Amansher Singh (Sherry Kalsi), and several others were present at the event, reinforcing the party’s unified front ahead of the upcoming political battles.
