The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated Punjab Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll, fueling speculation that his seat may have been cleared to facilitate AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s entry into Parliament.
Addressing the speculation, Punjab AAP spokesperson Jagtar Singh Sanghera dismissed the claims, stating, “Sanjeev Arora hails from Ludhiana, making him a suitable candidate for the by-election. The party is yet to decide on the Rajya Sabha candidate. Reports suggesting Kejriwal’s move to the Rajya Sabha are mere rumors spread by opposition parties. There has been no discussion within the party regarding this.”
Expressing gratitude for his nomination, Arora wrote 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.”
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, however, questioned the development. In a post on X, he remarked, “AAP has announced Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the Ludhiana West by-election. Reports suggest Kejriwal plans to take over Arora’s Rajya Sabha seat… Is this an example of the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ mindset and desperation for government perks? Those who once promised to live in a 2BHK now seek luxury bungalows and perhaps even imagined constitutional immunity against serious corruption allegations flagged in CAG reports.”
Adding to the debate, Punjab Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa asserted, “This will certainly happen. Initially, Kejriwal considered contesting from the seat of the late AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi but backed out fearing a strong reaction from Punjabis against an outsider. My predictions are proving true. It’s well known that there is internal friction between AAP’s Delhi and Punjab factions.”
On February 10, News18 had reported that following his party’s losses in the Delhi Assembly elections, Kejriwal was likely to seek a Rajya Sabha seat. A party leader, speaking anonymously, stated, “Every position Kejriwal has held has been aimed at public service. If not as Delhi’s Chief Minister, then perhaps as a Rajya Sabha MP, he will continue to serve the people.”
The leader further emphasized that holding a position grants credibility. “As a public representative, you have the authority to raise the concerns of the masses. Even though Kejriwal leads a national party, a Rajya Sabha seat would enhance his influence,” the leader added.
AAP’s performance in the Delhi Assembly has significantly declined, with its seat count dropping from over 60 in the 2015 and 2020 elections to just 22 in 2025. As a result, Kejriwal and several key party members lost their seats, relegating AAP to the opposition in Delhi.
Currently, AAP holds 10 Rajya Sabha seats—three from Delhi and seven from Punjab. The Delhi seats are valid until 2030, while Punjab’s terms extend to 2028. The party’s Delhi Rajya Sabha representatives include Sanjay Singh, Narain Dass Gupta, and Swati Maliwal, with the latter growing increasingly critical of AAP in recent months. While Maliwal is serving her first term, Singh and Gupta have been re-elected.
For Kejriwal to enter the Rajya Sabha, an existing MP must vacate their seat. However, AAP lacks the numbers in the Delhi Assembly to retain a seat if a Delhi-based Rajya Sabha MP resigns. In contrast, the party’s strength in Punjab—with 93 MLAs and three MPs—ensures it can reclaim any vacated Rajya Sabha seat from the state.
