Arvind Kejriwal to Enter Rajya Sabha? BJP Reacts as AAP Picks Sanjeev Arora for Bypoll

BJP Reacts as AAP Picks Sanjeev Arora for Bypoll: On Wednesday, the Aam Aadmi Party announced its candidate for the Ludhiana West assembly by-elections: Sanjiv Arora, Rajya Sabha MP, giving rise to various speculations regarding Arvind Kejriwal's entry into Parliament.

Sanjiv Arora is an industrialist from Ludhiana, who has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 2022. His name for the bypoll arose after the Ludhiana West constituency fell vacant after AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi's death last month; dates for the bypoll are still to be announced.

Also Read: Capgemini CEO Advocates Work-Life Balance: 47-Hour Week & No Weekend Emails

Arvind Kejriwal to enter Rajya Sabha?

Bharatiya Janata Party IT cell head Amit Malviya also weighed in about Sanjiv Arora's candidature. "Is this a move to clear the path for Arvind Kejriwal, who just lost his own seat in New Delhi, to get nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab?"

"Wouldn't it be better if someone from Punjab represented the state instead of Kejriwal?" wrote Amit Malviya on X.

BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also questioned the selection of Arora by the AAP for the Ludhiana West by-poll and asked three questions regarding the decision. "Kejriwal wants to enter Rajya Sabha? Kejriwal wants Govt accommodation in Delhi? Kejriwal having major power FOMO after losing elections?"

Kejriwal has now turned his attention towards Punjab after being overwhelmingly defeated in the 2025 Delhi assembly election from New Delhi, in which BJP's Parvesh Verma beat the former CM.

Kejriwal should be working extensively towards improving the ground situation of the party in Punjab for the Assembly elections in the years 2027, for which he has two years of preparations.

Amit Malviya further questioned whether the AAP had promised Arora a ministerial position once he wins the bypoll and vacates 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," he added.

AAP dismisses claim

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar quieted the speculation regarding Kejriwal's imminent entry to Parliament.

"Arvind Kejriwal is not going to Rajya Sabha," she said to ANI. She said that as far as the AAP supremo is concerned, earlier there were reports of him becoming the Punjab CM, now it is of him contesting from 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 added.

Also Read: Woman Buys Single Strawberry for ₹1,600 at Luxury Grocery Store – Here’s Why

Notably, Arora's candidate announcement comes just a day after Punjab's Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that it is certain that Kejriwal's entry into the Rajya Sabha will happen.

Bajwa said that Kejriwal was initially considering to enter through the seat of deceased AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi but withdrew amid concerns of backlash in Punjab.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Bajwa said, this (Kejriwal's Parliament entry) will 100 per cent happen.

"Most probably, there can be some truth to the information regarding Arora sahab (speculations around AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora contesting Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll),” Bajwa had noted.

Also Read: Maha Kumbh 2025 Concludes: Maha Shivratri Snan at Sangam, Heavy Rush in Prayagraj | Key Highlights