Ludhiana (West) by-poll: AAP’s Sanjeev Arora emerged as the richest candidate—know who the other candidates are

The upcoming by-election in Ludhiana (West) is turning into a high-profile political battle, and AAP’s Sanjeev Arora is making headlines, not just for his political backing, but also for being the wealthiest contender in the fray. An industrialist and sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Arora has declared assets worth a massive ₹302.1 crore, making him the richest candidate in the race so far.

Meet the key candidates

• Sanjeev Arora (AAP): Declared assets worth ₹302.1 crore—₹278.57 crore in his name and ₹23.53 crore in his wife’s. A well-known philanthropist and businessman, Arora is also an active member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
• Bharat Bhushan Ashu (Congress): Former Punjab minister and a prominent face of the Congress in Ludhiana. His declared assets stand at ₹7.52 crore.
• Parupkar Singh Ghuman (SAD): Representing the Shiromani Akali Dal, Ghuman has declared assets worth ₹5.39 crore and is a regular on the local political scene.

Election dates 

• Polling: June 21, 2025
• Results: June 25, 2025

AAP pulls out all the stops

Sanjeev Arora’s nomination day turned into a grand roadshow that doubled up as a show of strength by AAP. Senior party leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP Punjab president Aman Arora, and Delhi minister Atishi, walked alongside him as a sea of supporters cheered on. The rally started from Aarti Chowk and moved through Ghumar Mandi, with slogans like “Inquilab Zindabad” echoing through the crowd.

Speaking at the event, Kejriwal struck a personal note, saying, “Sanjeev Arora ke raghon mein Ludhiana daudta hai”, framing Arora as someone deeply rooted in the city. He contrasted this with Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu, asking voters to choose progress over old grievances. Bhagwant Mann, meanwhile, reassured voters that the AAP symbol would be clearly visible on the ballot and expressed full faith in Arora’s chances.

Key campaign notes

• Arora has highlighted his efforts in resolving long-standing issues like proprietary rights for residents of the Lal Lakir area.
• Aman Arora’s presence at the nomination laid to rest any speculation about his absence from the campaign.
• Meanwhile, both Congress and SAD candidates are stepping up their outreach, but it’s Arora’s financial heft and AAP’s full-throttle campaign that are grabbing most of the attention.

What’s at stake?

With crores on the line and the full machinery of AAP rallying behind him, Sanjeev Arora’s candidacy has become the focal point of the Ludhiana (West) by-election. The outcome will serve as a litmus test for AAP’s standing in Punjab, and all eyes are now on June 21.