Is Kejriwal entering Rajya Sabha? Here's why there is speculation

Is Kejriwal entering Rajya Sabha? Here's why there is speculation
26 Feb 2025

Rumors are rife that former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal may enter the Rajya Sabha through Punjab.

The speculation has been fueled after sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora was named as the candidate for the Ludhiana (West) Assembly bypoll.

If Arora wins, he would have to vacate his Rajya Sabha seat, potentially making way for Kejriwal's entry into the Upper House.

Arora's potential cabinet position fuels Kejriwal speculation
Cabinet speculation

Party insiders say Arora could be inducted into the Bhagwant Mann cabinet as a minister. However, a final decision is likely to be taken only after Arora's election as an MLA.

Other Upper House MPs from Punjab have also reportedly offered to step down to accommodate Kejriwal.

Arora was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 from Punjab, and his tenure will end in 2028.

Kejriwal's political future hangs in balance
Political uncertainty

After AAP's Delhi elections defeat, where Kejriwal lost his New Delhi seat and the party was decimated to 22 seats in the 70-member House, he has been weighing two options: taking over as Punjab's CM or getting an RS seat to stay nationally relevant.

Replacing Mann could invite accusations that he puts his ambitions above the party's stability. But an RS seat would keep him nationally relevant.

Date for bypoll not announced yet
Date

The AAP has 10 RS seats at present- three from Delhi and seven from Punjab.

Gurpreet Gogi won the Ludhiana West seat in the 2022 Punjab election. He died of a gunshot wound from an accidental firing while cleaning his handgun.

The Election Commission has yet to announce the dates for the Ludhiana West bypoll. It is expected to be held in November, with the Bihar Assembly elections.

Reports absolutely wrong: AAP
AAP reacts

Reacting to the reports, the AAP said Kejriwal is not going anywhere and the media speculations are baseless.

"Media sources were earlier saying that he will become the Chief Minister of Punjab. Now, media sources are saying that he will contest from Rajya Sabha. Both these sources are absolutely wrong. Kejriwal is the national convenor of AAP. I agree that his demand is very high, but he is not limited to any one seat," AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar told ANI.