New Delhi [India], April 5 (ANI): Congress on Friday announced Bharat Bhushan Ashu as the party candidate for the forthcoming by-election to the Punjab Legislative Assembly from 64 - Ludhiana West Constituency.

His candidature for contesting the bypoll from the seat was approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, according to a party statement.

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"The Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the proposal for the candidature of Bharat Bhushan Ashu as party candidate for the forthcoming bye-elections to the Punjab Legislative Assembly from 64-Ludhiana West Constituency," the AICC press release stated.

The Ludhiana West seat fell vacant following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January.

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Earlier, on February 26, the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the Ludhiana West by-election.

On March 16, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann completed his three years as the CM of the state.

AAP had secured a majority in Patiala and Jalandhar in the December municipal elections.

Mann took over as 17th Chief Minister of Punjab on March 16, 2022, when the Aam Aadmi Party secured a more than two-thirds majority in the previous assembly elections. The party went on to win 92 seats out of 117 and dethroned Congress from power. (ANI)

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