The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated its Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjeev Arora, for the upcoming Ludhiana West assembly bypoll, triggering speculation that party chief Arvind Kejriwal may replace him in the Upper House. The bypoll was necessitated by the unfortunate demise of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi last month.

Arora, a businessman-turned-politician, was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 from Punjab, with his tenure lasting until 2028. However, contesting the assembly election requires him to resign from Parliament. If he does, the AAP-controlled Punjab government could facilitate Kejriwal’s entry into the Rajya Sabha through the vacated seat.

While the party has denied any such plan, insiders suggest that discussions are ongoing. Kejriwal’s political future has been a topic of debate since AAP’s loss in Delhi and his subsequent resignation as Chief Minister. Currently residing in Punjab MP Ashok Mittal’s house in Delhi, he is looking for his next political move.

Accepting the Ludhiana West ticket, Arora expressed gratitude to the AAP leadership but notably omitted any mention of Kejriwal. "Humbled and grateful for the faith reposed in me. As someone deeply connected to my hometown, I look forward to serving my people with dedication and sincerity," he posted online.

If victorious, Arora is expected to be rewarded with a ministerial berth in the Bhagwant Mann government. Meanwhile, Kejriwal, having lost his Delhi assembly membership to BJP’s Parvesh Verma, faces no hurdle in joining the Rajya Sabha. With Atishi now the Leader of the Opposition in Delhi, he is free to focus on national politics.

As Punjab remains AAP’s strongest bastion, Kejriwal’s potential Rajya Sabha entry could provide him a platform for a political resurgence.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated its Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjeev Arora, for the upcoming Ludhiana West assembly bypoll, triggering speculation that party chief Arvind Kejriwal may replace him in the Upper House. The bypoll was necessitated by the unfortunate demise of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi last month.

Arora, a businessman-turned-politician, was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 from Punjab, with his tenure lasting until 2028. However, contesting the assembly election requires him to resign from Parliament. If he does, the AAP-controlled Punjab government could facilitate Kejriwal’s entry into the Rajya Sabha through the vacated seat.

While the party has denied any such plan, insiders suggest that discussions are ongoing. Kejriwal’s political future has been a topic of debate since AAP’s loss in Delhi and his subsequent resignation as Chief Minister. Currently residing in Punjab MP Ashok Mittal’s house in Delhi, he is looking for his next political move.

Accepting the Ludhiana West ticket, Arora expressed gratitude to the AAP leadership but notably omitted any mention of Kejriwal. "Humbled and grateful for the faith reposed in me. As someone deeply connected to my hometown, I look forward to serving my people with dedication and sincerity," he posted online.

If victorious, Arora is expected to be rewarded with a ministerial berth in the Bhagwant Mann government. Meanwhile, Kejriwal, having lost his Delhi assembly membership to BJP’s Parvesh Verma, faces no hurdle in joining the Rajya Sabha. With Atishi now the Leader of the Opposition in Delhi, he is free to focus on national politics.

As Punjab remains AAP’s strongest bastion, Kejriwal’s potential Rajya Sabha entry could provide him a platform for a political resurgence.