Bharat Bhushan Ashu concedes defeat, vows to return stronger

A two-time MLA from Ludhiana (West), Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who served terms in 2012 and 2017, missed a comeback in the 2025 bypoll, finishing second to AAP’s Sanjeev Arora.

For Ashu, the contest carried added weight, not only as a shot at redemption after his 2022 defeat, but also as a symbolic counter step to his nearly year-long imprisonment under the AAP-led state government in an alleged corruption case.

Despite the loss, Ashu projected composure. “I have accepted the fatwa given by the people. My entire party stood by me. There might be some shortcoming in me only,” Ashu said while expressing gratitude to voters and colleagues.

He took full responsibility for the result, stating that, “The entire responsibility of the defeat is mine, and I will work harder in future. In the next election, we will give tough competition.”

Acknowledging the democratic verdict, he emphasised that the race was anything but easy for the ruling party. “It was not a one-sided election and there was no free run for the government, we gave them a tough fight,” he maintained.

He also congratulated Sanjeev Arora and said he was there whenever he needed him for Ludhiana’s development. With a promise to return with renewed vigour for future electoral battles, Ashu said, “We will fight back in the 2027 assembly elections.”