Punjab Speaker’s Remarks Spark Speculation Over Kejriwal’s Rajya Sabha Entry
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has ignited controversy by not outright rejecting the possibility of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal entering the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.
While AAP spokesperson Neel Garg dismissed speculation that either Kejriwal or former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia would be nominated for the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by AAP MP Sanjeev Arora, Sandhwan defended the party’s right to field any candidate of its choosing.
"Any party can nominate anyone to the Rajya Sabha from anywhere. What is the illegality in this? Even Manmohan Singh entered the Rajya Sabha from another state. The party will decide whom to field, and whoever they choose, I will welcome it," Sandhwan stated.
AAP Denies Rumors Amid Political Buzz
The AAP has officially denied any plans of nominating Kejriwal or Sisodia to the Rajya Sabha, attributing the rumors to political opponents. Neel Garg specifically accused the BJP of fueling speculation, stating,
"The BJP’s rumour mills are working overtime. As of now, the election for Ludhiana West hasn’t even been announced. Arora was chosen as the party’s candidate due to his strong local support. He has not resigned from the Rajya Sabha yet and can contest the by-election without doing so."
The Ludhiana West Assembly seat became vacant following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi Bassi, who succumbed to a gunshot wound at his residence last month. The Election Commission of India has yet to declare the schedule for the by-election.
Arora’s Candidacy and Past ED Raids
AAP announced Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the Ludhiana West by-election, aiming to strengthen the party’s presence in the region well in advance. However, Arora has been embroiled in controversy, as his residence was raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in October 2024 in connection with a money laundering probe linked to a land fraud case.
The investigation pertains to land allotted by the Punjab government to Ritesh Properties and Industries Limited, a company owned by Arora, for an industrial project. However, the land was allegedly used for residential purposes instead.
Despite the controversy, Arora expressed gratitude for his nomination, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
"Humbled and grateful to the leadership @AamAadmiParty for reposing faith in me to contest the Ludhiana West by-elections. As someone deeply connected to my hometown, I look forward to serving my people with dedication and sincerity."
Speculation Over Kejriwal’s Rajya Sabha Entry Persists
Currently, AAP has seven Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab, including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, educationist Ashok Mittal, environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, entrepreneur Vikramjit Singh Sahney, and Sanjeev Arora.
According to party insiders, all six other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab have offered to vacate their seats for Kejriwal, but he declined the offer.
Kejriwal, who suffered a defeat in the New Delhi constituency to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by over 4,000 votes in the recent Assembly elections, remains central to Punjab’s political landscape. While AAP officially denies any Rajya Sabha plans for him, the ongoing speculation and political maneuvering suggest the issue is far from settled.
With inputs from agencies.
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