Bathinda: In a major setback for Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the Congress party could secure only two out of the total 19 wards in the Gidderbaha municipal council, the results of which were declared on Friday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the elections by winning 17 seats, while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) failed to open its account.
Political Shift in Gidderbaha
Until 2012, Gidderbaha was considered a stronghold of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Subsequently, the constituency shifted allegiance to the Congress, with Warring winning the assembly elections from this seat in 2012, 2017, and 2022. However, after Warring's election as the Ludhiana MP in 2024, the AAP candidate Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon defeated Warring's wife Amrita Warring in the assembly bypoll.
Reasons Behind AAP's Victory
Dhillon, who was with SAD until 2024, attributed AAP's success to the party's development-oriented approach. He stated, "People have reposed faith in the party's vision and have ensured a resounding victory." Warring had spent considerable time campaigning in Gidderbaha, but the Congress failed to make a significant impact, according to a party functionary.
Congress workers accused the AAP of employing high-handed tactics to secure the win by any means necessary. They staged a protest later in the day, demanding a recount of votes. Warring claimed that the election was not conducted fairly, asserting that Congress would have performed much better had the elections been free and fair.
MLA Hardeep Singh Dhillon refuted the allegations, calling them baseless. He emphasized that the election was held in a free and fair manner, with no pressure exerted on anyone.
