AAP Fields RS MP Sanjeev Arora for Ludhiana West Bypoll, Speculation Grows Over Kejriwal’s Rajya Sabha Entry

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated its Punjab Rajya Sabha (RS) member, Sanjeev Arora, as the candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll. This decision has fueled speculation that Arora’s seat might be vacated to facilitate the entry of AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal into Parliament.

AAP Dismisses Speculation on Kejriwal’s RS Entry

Reacting to the growing conjecture, Punjab AAP spokesperson Jagtar Singh Sanghera dismissed the claims, stating, “Sanjeev Arora is from Ludhiana, and therefore, he has been chosen for the by-election. The party will deliberate on selecting a candidate for Rajya Sabha later. The rumors about Kejriwal’s entry into the Rajya Sabha are being spread by the Opposition. No such discussion has taken place within the party.”

Arora expressed his gratitude on social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “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.”

Opposition Questions AAP’s Intentions

BJP’s national spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, criticized AAP’s move, stating on X: “AAP has announced Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the Ludhiana West by-election. Media reports suggest that Kejriwal will then take Arora’s Rajya Sabha seat. Is this the Sheesh Mahal mindset? Those who claimed to live in a 2BHK flat now want a big bungalow and possibly imagined constitutional immunity from corruption charges.”

Congress leader and Punjab’s Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa, echoed these sentiments, asserting, “This will 100% happen. Initially, Kejriwal wanted to contest from Gurpreet Gogi’s seat, but he backed out fearing backlash from Punjabis who do not support outsiders contesting in their state. My earlier predictions are coming true. There has always been a power struggle between AAP’s Delhi and Punjab factions.”

Kejriwal’s Political Future Under Scrutiny

The speculation regarding Kejriwal’s potential shift to the Rajya Sabha gained momentum after AAP’s poor performance in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, where its seat tally dropped from over 60 in previous elections to just 22. With the party now in the opposition in Delhi, discussions about Kejriwal’s next political move have intensified.

According to an anonymous AAP leader who spoke to News18, “All positions Kejriwal has held were for public service. If not as Delhi’s Chief Minister, he could continue to serve as a Rajya Sabha MP. Holding a parliamentary position provides a stronger platform to voice public concerns.”

Challenges in Securing a Rajya Sabha Seat

AAP currently has 10 Rajya Sabha MPs—seven from Punjab and three from Delhi. The seats from Delhi are valid until 2030, while those from Punjab are secured until 2028. The party’s Delhi-based Rajya Sabha members include Sanjay Singh, Narain Dass Gupta, and Swati Maliwal. While Singh and Gupta have been RS members in the past, Maliwal, who has recently become critical of Kejriwal, is serving her first term.

For Kejriwal to enter the Rajya Sabha, an existing MP would have to resign. However, if a Delhi RS MP steps down, AAP cannot reclaim the seat due to its diminished strength in the Delhi Assembly. Therefore, a Punjab-based RS member’s resignation seems to be the only viable option.

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Kejriwal indeed makes a move to the Upper House or if AAP’s leadership reshuffles its Rajya Sabha representation. Meanwhile, the Ludhiana West bypoll will be closely watched as political observers assess the party’s broader strategy for the upcoming electoral cycles.