AAP Names Sanjeev Arora as Ludhiana West Bypoll Candidate Amid Speculation Over Arvind Kejriwal’s Possible Rajya Sabha Entry; Party Dismisses Reports

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Ludhiana: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll, fueling speculation about a potential reshuffle in the party’s parliamentary representation. Reports suggest that AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal could replace Arora in the Upper House if he wins the bypoll, but the party has firmly denied these claims.

AAP made the official announcement regarding Arora’s candidature on Wednesday morning, setting the stage for a crucial electoral contest following the death of sitting MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi on January 10.

AAP Denies Reports of Kejriwal’s Rajya Sabha Bid

While media reports hinted that Kejriwal might enter the Rajya Sabha from Punjab, AAP dismissed the speculation. “Arvind Kejriwal is not going to Rajya Sabha,” party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar told ANI. “Earlier, sources claimed he would become Punjab CM; now, they say he will contest for Rajya Sabha. Both are false. He is AAP’s national convenor and not limited to any one seat.”

Who is Sanjeev Arora?

Arora, a businessman-turned-politician, has been AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab since 2022, elected unopposed. His tenure, set to last until 2028, will be cut short if he wins the bypoll. A veteran industrialist, Arora has managed Ritesh Industries Ltd for over three decades, later diversifying into real estate with Ritesh Properties and Industries Ltd (RPIL). His projects include Hampton Business Park and Hampton Homes in Ludhiana.

In October 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided multiple locations linked to Arora in a land fraud case, including sites in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Gurugram, and Delhi, according to news agency.

AAP’s Road Ahead in Punjab and Delhi

The announcement comes at a critical time for AAP. In the recent Delhi Assembly elections, Kejriwal faced a setback, losing to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by over 4,000 votes, as the BJP ended AAP’s reign with a landslide victory of 48 out of 70 seats.

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