The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced Sanjeev Arora, a current Rajya Sabha member and Ludhiana-based industrialist, as its candidate for the Ludhiana West assembly by-election. This move has sparked speculation that AAP aims to send Arvind Kejriwal to Parliament through the Rajya Sabha.
Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira has criticized the decision, tweeting that Arora's nomination is a "black day" for Punjab. Khaira alleged that Arora has been "bribed" by Kejriwal to vacate his Rajya Sabha seat, allowing Kejriwal to take over. This, Khaira claims, would be a violation of Punjab's rights and would lead to an MP who doesn't know Punjabi.
Other opposition leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia of the Shiromani Akali Dal, have also spoken out against the decision. Majithia accused Kejriwal of having a "lust for power" and claimed that AAP is "ruining" Punjab.
However, the AAP has denied rumors that Kejriwal plans to join the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. Party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar has called these claims "baseless."
The Ludhiana West seat fell vacant after the death of AAP leader Gurpreet Singh Gogi, who won the 2022 assembly elections. Gogi's wife, Dr. Sukhchain Bassi Gogi, was also a contender for the seat.
The by-election is expected to take place in a few weeks, and the AAP's decision to field Arora has set off a political storm in Punjab.
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