The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced that Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora will contest the assembly bypoll for Ludhiana West, following the vacancy created by the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi. This decision has sparked speculation that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal might replace Arora in the Upper House if he wins, as one cannot hold two offices simultaneously. While AAP has denied any such plan, discussions are rumored to be ongoing. If elected, Arora could also be appointed a minister in Punjab’s government. Kejriwal, who needs a political comeback after losing power in Delhi, may find this route beneficial.
New Delhi:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has sparked discussions with its decision to nominate Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora for an assembly by-election, leading to speculation that party leader Arvind Kejriwal might take over his Upper House seat following Arora’s recent electoral defeat which ended his membership in the Delhi assembly.
This morning, AAP announced that Mr. Arora would be contesting the by-election for Ludhiana West, a seat made vacant last month due to the accidental shooting death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi while cleaning his pistol.
Mr. Arora, a businessman, was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2022, with his term lasting until 2028. However, as one cannot hold two offices, he would need to resign from parliament if he wins the by-election and intends to remain an MLA. If that happens, Mr. Kejriwal may be allocated the vacant Rajya Sabha seat. Although the AAP has refuted any such plans, it is reportedly in discussions about this matter.
Upon accepting the nomination for Ludhiana West, Mr. Arora expressed his gratitude to the AAP leadership in an online statement, notably not mentioning Mr. Kejriwal.
“I am humbled and thankful to the leadership of Aam Aadmi Party for their trust in me to contest the Ludhiana West bye-elections. As someone who is deeply connected to my hometown, I am eager to serve my community with dedication and sincerity,” stated the AAP leader.
Insiders indicate that he could be appointed as a minister in the Bhagwant Mann government should he win the by-election, viewed as a reward for relinquishing his seat for the party leader.
Currently, Punjab stands as the most promising opportunity for Mr. Kejriwal after his party lost power in Delhi, ending a decade-long tenure. Since vacating the government bungalow following his resignation as Chief Minister last year, he has been residing in Delhi at the home of another Punjab MP, Ashok Mittal.
In contrast to Mr. Arora, Mr. Kejriwal does not face any membership restrictions with respect to joining the Rajya Sabha, as his Delhi assembly membership was taken away by the BJP’s Parvesh Verma in the recent elections. With party leader Atishi now designated as Leader of the Opposition, he is free to redirect his focus to the national level.