Sanjeev Arora's Ludhiana bypoll nomination not intended to make way for Kejriwal in RS, AAP clarifies

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has dismissed speculation about its decision to field Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the upcoming Ludhiana West bypolls, asserting that the move is not aimed at paving a way for party convener Arvind Kejriwal or senior leader Manish Sisodia to enter the Upper House.

Calling it a strategic move aimed at strengthening its grassroots presence, AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said the move will prepare its cadres in advance.

“The BJP’s rumor mills are working overtime. As of now, the Ludhiana West election has not even been announced. Arora has been chosen due to his popularity in Ludhiana. He remains a Rajya Sabha MP and can contest the by-election without resigning,” Garg said in a statement.

The Ludhiana West seat fell vacant following the sudden demise of sitting MLA Gurpreet Gogi Bassi, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound at his residence last month. The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the bypoll schedule.

Arora, whose residence was raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in October 2024 as part of a money laundering probe linked to a land fraud case, has remained a key figure in Punjab politics.

The raid pertained to land allotted to his company, Ritesh Properties and Industries Limited, by the state government for an industrial project, which was allegedly used for residential purposes instead.

Gogi had joined the party in 2022 and secured victory over two-time MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu in the state Assembly elections that year.

Expressing gratitude for his nomination, Arora posted on X, “Humbled and grateful to the leadership @AamAadmiParty for reposing faith in me to contest the Ludhiana West bye-elections. As someone deeply connected to my hometown, I look forward to serving my people with dedication and sincerity.”

Currently, Punjab has seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, educationist Ashok Mittal, environmentalist-religious leader Balbir Singh Seechewal, entrepreneur Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Arora.

Party insiders revealed that all six AAP Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab had offered their seats to Kejriwal, but the former Delhi chief minister declined the proposal. Kejriwal recently suffered a setback in the New Delhi Assembly elections, losing to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by over 4,000 votes.

Emphasizing that Arora’s nomination is purely a strategic electoral decision, AAP spokesperson categorically denied any plans for Kejriwal or Sisodia to enter the Upper House from Punjab.

‘Son of Delhi, pride of Haryana’

Amid growing speculation over Arvind Kejriwal’s potential entry into the Rajya Sabha, AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has launched a scathing attack on Kejriwal, accusing him of shifting political allegiances for personal gain.

In a pointed post on X, Maliwal wrote in Hindi, "Kursi ke liye - kabhi Delhi ka beta, kabhi Haryana ka laal, ab Punjab da puttar (For the sake of power - sometimes the son of Delhi, sometimes the pride of Haryana, now the son of Punjab),” implying that Kejriwal was tailoring his identity to suit his political ambitions.

Maliwal’s remarks come in the wake of AAP’s decision to field Arora for the Ludhiana West bypoll, triggering speculation that Kejriwal might secure a seat in the Upper House by taking Arora’s place.

Maliwal, who distanced herself from AAP following an alleged assault by Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar, has been vocal about her discontent with the party leadership. Her latest attack suggests a deepening rift within AAP, even as the party battles criticism and speculation over its political maneuvers.

The controversy over Kejriwal’s potential Rajya Sabha entry has added another layer of intrigue to AAP’s internal politics, with Maliwal’s remarks intensifying the debate over the party’s future direction and leadership strategies.