Speculation Grows Over Arvind Kejriwal’s Rajya Sabha Entry, AAP Dismisses Rumors
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora for the upcoming Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll, leading to speculation about Arvind Kejriwal’s possible entry into the Parliament.
However, AAP sources have dismissed these rumors. The announcement regarding Arora’s candidature was made by AAP national general secretary Sandeep Pathak in a post on X. The date for the bypoll is yet to be announced.
Sanjeev Arora, a Ludhiana-based industrialist, has served in the Rajya Sabha since 2022.
The Ludhiana West seat became vacant following the accidental death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi last month due to an accidental gunshot injury at his home.
Kejriwal’s Recent Election Defeat and Speculation Over Rajya Sabha Entry
Arvind Kejriwal recently lost his seat in the Delhi Assembly elections, where he was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Parvesh Verma in the New Delhi constituency.
The BJP secured 48 seats, marking a significant victory in the national capital after 27 years, while AAP’s presence was reduced to 22 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly.
This defeat marks a substantial setback for Kejriwal and AAP, who had governed Delhi for the past 13 years.
With Arora contesting in the bypoll, speculation has arisen that Kejriwal may be nominated to replace him in the Rajya Sabha if he wins. AAP, however, has denied such claims.
Who Is Sanjeev Arora?
Sanjeev Arora, 61, completed his Bachelor of Commerce from SCD Government College, Ludhiana, affiliated with Punjab University, Chandigarh.
His father, Pran Arora, founded a garment and knitwear business, which evolved into Ritesh Properties and Industries Limited (RPIL). Under Sanjeev Arora’s leadership, RPIL expanded into real estate, housing, industrial, and commercial projects.
In 2006, Arora rebranded the company as Hampton Sky Realty Limited (HSRL), which is now listed on the BSE with a market capitalization of Rs 900 crore.
He also developed Hampton Business Park and Hampton Homes in Ludhiana, with around 70 industries currently part of the project.
Arora has been running his export business, Ritesh Industries Ltd, for over three decades, primarily exporting goods to the USA, with an office in Virginia. He currently serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of RPIL.
Philanthropic Contributions and Business Ventures
Following his mother’s passing due to breast cancer, Arora established the Krishna Pran Breast Cancer Charitable Trust in 2005. The trust provides free treatment to cancer patients and was inspired by his father, who also succumbed to cancer.
In 2018, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh honored Arora with a state award for his philanthropic efforts. By then, his trust had assisted over 100 cancer patients.
Arora launched the women’s wear brand Femella in 2018, available on platforms like Myntra, Reliance AJio, Tata Cliq, and Nykaa. In 2019, he entered the non-ferrous metal industry with Teneron Limited, which collaborates with Suzuki Motors’ Gujarat plant under the Make in India initiative.
He is a governing board member of Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, a member of the Apex Council of Punjab Cricket Association, and part of the Ved Mandir Trust, Daresi, Punjab. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022.
Political Implications and BJP’s Response
AAP currently has seven Rajya Sabha members from Punjab, including Sandeep Pathak, Raghav Chadha, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, industrialist Vikramjit Singh, and Sanjeev Arora.
The nomination of Arora for the bypoll has sparked debates about whether AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is preparing for a Rajya Sabha entry.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya questioned whether this move was aimed at facilitating Kejriwal’s nomination to the Upper House, asking, “Wouldn’t it be better if someone from Punjab represented the state instead of Kejriwal?”
BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also raised concerns, questioning whether AAP’s decision to field Arora was a strategic move to clear the path for Kejriwal.
He posed three pointed questions: “Kejriwal wants to enter Rajya Sabha? Kejriwal wants government accommodation in Delhi? Kejriwal having major power FOMO after losing elections?”
Kejriwal’s Shift in Focus to Punjab
After AAP’s electoral defeat in Delhi, Kejriwal has seemingly turned his attention towards Punjab, aiming to strengthen his party’s position for the 2027 Assembly elections.
With two years to prepare, he is reportedly strategizing to enhance AAP’s presence in the state.
Amit Malviya further questioned whether AAP had promised Arora a ministerial position once he vacated his seat.
“This kind of transactional politics must be condemned. The people of Ludhiana must defeat Sanjeev Arora so that he cannot offer his seat to Arvind Kejriwal without losing his own,” Malviya stated.
AAP’s Clarification on Kejriwal’s Future Plans
AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar dismissed the speculation surrounding Kejriwal’s possible entry into the Parliament, stating, “Arvind Kejriwal is not going to Rajya Sabha.”
She emphasized that earlier rumors suggested Kejriwal might become Punjab’s Chief Minister, and now new reports claim he might enter Rajya Sabha.
“Both of these are absolutely wrong. Arvind Kejriwal is the national convenor of AAP. I agree that his demand is very high, but he is not limited to any one seat,” Kakkar clarified.
Notably, Arora’s nomination was announced just a day after Punjab’s Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa asserted that Kejriwal’s entry into Rajya Sabha was inevitable.
Bajwa claimed Kejriwal initially considered contesting from the Ludhiana West seat left vacant by Gurpreet Gogi but withdrew due to concerns over a possible backlash in Punjab.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Bajwa said, “This (Kejriwal’s Parliament entry) will 100 per cent happen.” He further suggested that there might be some truth to the speculation regarding Sanjeev Arora’s candidacy for the Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll.
