New Delhi: In the wake of recent electoral setbacks in Delhi, speculation has swirled around Arvind Kejriwal’s potential move to the Rajya Sabha. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has firmly denied these rumors, emphasizing Kejriwal’s pivotal role in expanding the party nationwide. This comes as the AAP fields its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora for the Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll in Punjab, a move that has sparked intense political debate.
Kejriwal, who lost his New Delhi assembly seat to BJP’s Parvesh Verma, remains focused on his responsibilities as AAP’s national convener. “Kejriwal will not go to the Rajya Sabha because he has the big responsibility of the party’s expansion in the country and he is working on it,” said senior party leader Somnath Bharti. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar echoed this sentiment, dismissing media claims about Kejriwal’s potential entry into the Upper House from Punjab as “absolutely wrong.”
The decision to field Arora in the bypoll has raised eyebrows, with opposition leaders speculating that it could pave the way for Kejriwal to enter the Rajya Sabha if Arora wins and vacates his seat. However, AAP maintains that Arora’s candidacy is due to his popularity and commitment to serving the people of Ludhiana West.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa of the BJP has criticized Kejriwal, labeling him “power-hungry” and urging voters to defeat Arora in the by-election to thwart any potential Rajya Sabha ambitions.
