The three-way contest from the Jalandhar West seat has made the by-election intriguing since ex-MLA Sheetal Angural quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Additionally, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s entry has provided Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with a much-needed boost to their campaign. CM Mann is currently staying in Jalandhar to campaign for the Jalandhar West candidate Mohinder Bhagat.
In this assembly seat, Congress is putting their hopes on seasoned politician Surinder Kaur, a former deputy mayor of the city, while the BJP has fielded the controversial Sheetal Angural. The ruling AAP has nominated Mohinder Bhagat, the son of former Punjab minister Chuni Lal Bhagat. While candidates from the Akali Dal and BSP are also running, the Congress, AAP, and BJP are the main contenders.
Conversely, the AAP's seamless and aggressive campaign, spearheaded by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has increased the party's prospects of winning this seat. The ministers and MLAs entrusted to the job are working hard, even though the Chief Minister moved to Jalandhar and rented a residence. Mohinder Bhagat's campaign is being strengthened by his father, Chunni Lal Bhagat’s stronghold in the constituency, his image of being a serious and sincere person, and his great connection to the people at the grassroots level.
Though the Aam Aadmi Party finished third in the most recent Lok Sabha elections with Congress taking the lead, a lot has changed since then thanks to the aggressive campaign held by CM Mann. The Congress party is struggling with the non-performer tag of its candidate on this seat as she has no solid record of her tenure as Deputy Mayor. Apart from this, Surinder’s influence outside her ward is less with other top Congress officials abstaining from the campaign adding to the woes of the candidate.
Talking about BJP, former MLA Sheetal Angural is facing trouble due to personal disputes with several leaders. The saffron party is lagging behind and senior leaders are keeping distance from Angural's election campaign and there is a sense of uneasiness to it. Similarly, open allegations of patronizing criminals in the West is also giving Angural a tough time.
Therefore, AAP holds a strong position going into the Jalandhar Bye-elections thanks to the aggressive campaign launched by the Chief Minister himself. The CM is staying at the Nanak Niwas in Deep Nagar, Jalandhar and addressing party grievances from his residence. The CM is dedicated to leaving no stone unturned to score the victory in the bye-elections. CM Mann said that he will be personally available to people at this house for effective and immediate redressal of grievances of people.