Is Arvind Kejriwal going to the Rajya Sabha? BJP, Congress say so, AAP denies
Denying reports claiming party chief Arvind Kejriwal will be nominated as AAP's new Rajya Sabha member from the seat vacated by Sanjeev Arora, a senior AAP leader in Delhi said, “He is the national convener of the party. He is not going to Rajya Sabha.”
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Kejriwal arrived in Hoshiarpur on Tuesday with a massive security convoy, including ambulances, fire engines, and several luxury vehicles. (Express File Photo)With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declaring sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate from the Ludhiana West Assembly seat, speculation over who will be the AAP nominee to replace him is rife.
Denying reports claiming party chief Arvind Kejriwal will be nominated as AAP’s new Rajya Sabha member from the seat vacated by Arora, a senior AAP leader in Delhi said, “He is the national convener of the party. He is not going to Rajya Sabha.”
Arora, the leader added, is being fielded from Ludhiana West because of his “immense popularity”. “The seat is important and Arora is a very popular leader. He also wants to be more connected to the ground and work among the people,” the leader said.
BJP and Congress leaders have, meanwhile, attacked Kejriwal and AAP over the issue.
“Arvind Kejriwal is power-hungry. After losing Delhi, he wants to go to Rajya Sabha and is forced by Sanjeev Arora to contest the bypoll from the Ludhiana West seat. Kejriwal wanted to become the Chief Minister of Punjab but failed to do so he is opting for this tactic,” Delhi Minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring claimed that Kejriwal would be nominated for Rajya Sabha “for sure”. “…This is certain. These are not just conjectures… It is certain that he is preparing for Rajya Sabha and if the opportunity arises then he will be in Rajya Sabha,” he said.
This comes amid Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan saying that “whoever is nominated to the Rajya Sabha is most welcome”. “There is nothing illegal in this. Was Dr Manmohan Singh not sent from some other state,” the AAP leader asked.
The AAP’s defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls pushed the party to the back foot on its home turf. Senior leaders, including Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Saurabh Bharadwaj, lost their seats, with only 22 being elected in a House of 70.
A senior party leader, while ruling out Kejriwal’s nomination, said there are several others in the party who could be considered. “No decision has been taken so far but names are being discussed,” the leader added.
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