Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has been actively campaigning in ਪੰਜਾਬ with back-to-back visits, meetings with traders, inaugurations, and an anti-drug march. His focus is on the upcoming Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll, despite AAP’s strong majority in the ਪੰਜਾਬ Vidhan Sabha.
AAP has already named Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate, sparking speculation that the party might be paving the way for Kejriwal to enter the Upper House of Parliament. Opposition leaders claim that after losing Delhi, Kejriwal wants to strengthen his hold on ਪੰਜਾਬ by representing the state in Rajya Sabha.
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa alleged, “This is not Arora’s election, but Kejriwal’s. The entire senior AAP leadership is now focused on ਪੰਜਾਬ to maintain control.” However, Arora dismissed these claims, stating that Kejriwal does not need him to resign to secure a Rajya Sabha seat.
AAP has also appointed former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia as ਪੰਜਾਬ in-charge and ex-ਮੰਤਰੀ Satyendar Jain as co-in-charge. They have been inspecting development projects and participating in public events alongside ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ Bhagwant Mann.
ਪੰਜਾਬ Congress ਮੁੱਖ Amrinder Singh Raja Warring claimed AAP fears losing the bypoll, which is why Kejriwal and Mann are actively campaigning in Ludhiana. “It is unheard of for a national leader to be so involved in a local bypoll,” he said.
With the bypoll date yet to be announced, the political battle in Ludhiana West is heating up, making it a key contest for AAP and the opposition.
