The Aam Aadmi Party's victory in the Ludhiana West by-election in Punjab has set off speculation over the party's next step as it looks to replace sitting MP Sanjeev Arora, the party's winning candidate from the seat. The AAP sparked buzz of a comeback after winning two seats in the by-elections to five Assembly seats in four states. The other seat it won was in Gujarat where its chief ministerial candidate Gopal Italia emerged the winner in Visavadar.
The AAP's victory in Ludhiana (West), an urban seat primarily comprising businessmen and traders, has come as a shot in the arm for the party ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in the state in 2027. The victory, however, has set off speculation over who the party chooses as Arora's replacement in the Upper House.
The Ludhiana (West) seat was seen as crucial for the AAP as a victory here was speculated to pave the way for national convener Arvind Kejriwal's entry into Parliament. Kejriwal's stock slipped after he stepped down as the Chief Minister of Delhi following his release on bail in the liquor policy case, and the AAP's defeat to the BJP in the Delhi Assembly elections after 10 years at the helm in the capital.
With Delhi out of his hands, Kejriwal was seen passionately involved in the affairs of Punjab, the only state where it remains in power. The recent bypoll also saw the entire AAP leadership, including Kejriwal and his former ministerial colleague Manish Sisodia, converge in Ludhiana where they led an aggressive campaign to ensure a victory. Kejriwal himself campaigned in the constituency for several weeks at a stretch.
While many saw Kejriwal's involvement in the by-election as an indication of the former CM's debut in Parliament, AAP officially maintains Kejriwal has no such plans.
"Kejriwal nahin ja raha (Kejriwal is not going to the Rajya Sabha) though you (the media) have sent me there several times already," the AAP chief said in Delhi, repeating what the party had clarified in February itself.
"As far as Arvind Kejriwal is concerned, earlier the media said he would become the Punjab Chief Minister. Now, they are saying he will go to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. The media sources are absolutely wrong," AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar had then said.
Contrarian views have emerged within the AAP over Kejriwal's Rajya Sabha foray. One section believes that Kejriwal's mass appeal and connect with voters make him a good fit for the Lok Sabha, and that Manish Sisodia, AAP's Punjab in-charge, would be a more suitable choice for the Upper House. The other, however, sees Kejriwal's presence in Parliament key to the party's visibility and relevance on the national stage.
"Kejriwal is a leader who has national relevance and national ambitions. For the party’s success, he must remain visible and relevant. His going to the Rajya Sabha will mean a better rapport with Opposition leaders and visible bonhomie, pushing his case for an elevation in the INDIA bloc," a senior AAP leader told The Indian Express, backing AAP chief's move to the Rajya Sabha.
Another leader, however, said that a Rajya Sabha seat would be unsuitable for a leader of Kejriwal's stature. "He is a leader of the masses with electoral appeal. If he has to go national, it should be through the Lok Sabha. The party has also clarified in the past that he will not be making this move," the AAP functionary said, adding that Manish Sisodia would be the "more obvious choice".
Several other AAP leader also believe that sending Sisodia to the Rajya Sabha would send the right message to the people, especially in view of the Opposition repeatedly pointing to the overwhelming presence of the Delhi leadership in Punjab. Sisodia has been serving as the AAP's Punjab in-charge and his nomination to the Rajya Sabha would not generate as much controversy.
There is another school of thought within the party which believes that the party must accord priority to the Punjab elections in 2027 and hence choose a leader from Punjab to send to the Rajya Sabha.
"The biggest priority for the party right now is a smooth tenure in the state till the Assembly elections (in early 2027); given the fact that the issue of the AAP ‘importing leaders from Delhi’ is an issue which the opposition has been raking up consistently, sending a Delhi-based leader will be counterproductive. A leader from Punjab may be chosen," said an AAP leader.
The leader said that party leaders like Kejriwal, Sisodia and Satyendar Jain did not need a platform to voice their opinion. "All they need to do is take to social media as and when required. The AAP, unlike other political parties, is neither in need of elevating a leader purely so that they can get facilities such as government accommodation, or any other sort of ‘protection’ through legislative privilege,” the leader added.
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