Arvind Kejriwal, former Chief Minister of Delhi, described the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) triumphs in the Punjab and Gujarat by-elections as a “semi-final” for the 2027 Assembly elections, confidently predicting that AAP would form governments in both states.
Speaking at a celebratory event marking the party’s successes in the Visavadar constituency in Gujarat and Ludhiana West in Punjab, Mr Kejriwal declared, “The by-elections in Gujarat and Punjab were a semi-final. In the 2027 Assembly elections, we will secure over 100 seats in Punjab and form the government.”
Mr Kejriwal extended congratulations to Gopal Italia, the victor in Gujarat, and Sanjeev Arora, who triumphed in Ludhiana West, while expressing gratitude to voters for their support. “For the past three years, we’ve governed Punjab. Far from anti-incumbency, there’s a wave of pro-incumbency. We won 92 seats in the 2022 Assembly elections, and it appears we’ll surpass 100 in 2027,” he added.
The AAP leader accused the Congress leadership of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “AAP is battling the establishment. We’re here to deliver honest politics. In Gujarat, people are tired of the BJP and see no alternative in Congress. They now view AAP as a beacon of hope,” he said, boldly asserting, “We will form the government in Gujarat in 2027.”
On Monday, 23 June 2025, Kejriwal had remarked that Gujarat’s electorate was disillusioned with the BJP, noting that voters had rejected both Congress and BJP in the by-elections. AAP’s Gopal Italia secured the Visavadar seat, while BJP’s Rajendra Chavda won the Kadi seat, according to officials.
In Punjab, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora was poised for victory in Ludhiana West, leading by over 7,000 votes against Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, per early trends. Mr Kejriwal stated that the Ludhiana West results reflected Punjab’s satisfaction with AAP’s governance, with the party receiving a higher vote share than in 2022.
In a Hindi post on X, he wrote, “Gujarat’s people are weary of the BJP and now place their trust in AAP.” Thanking voters in both states, he added, “Heartfelt congratulations on AAP’s resounding victories in Visavadar, Gujarat, and Ludhiana West, Punjab. The margin of victory in both constituencies has nearly doubled compared to the last election.”
Kejriwal claimed that Congress and BJP had united to defeat AAP but were rejected by voters. Jubilant scenes unfolded at AAP’s Delhi headquarters, where supporters celebrated the dual victories by sharing laddoos.