AAP's Ludhiana Win Fuels Rajya Sabha Buzz in Party

The victory has intensified speculation surrounding Kejriwal's next move. However, Kejriwal dismissed immediate plans to enter the Rajya Sabha.

- Tikam Sharma

With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) successfully retaining the Ludhiana West Assembly seat in a tightly contested byelection, the party has not only reinforced its political stronghold in Punjab but also sparked fresh speculation over former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's potential entry into the Rajya Sabha. If Kejriwal opts out, many believe former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is the most likely candidate to be nominated to the Upper House.

The victory—achieved against a formidable challenge from the Congress—is being widely interpreted as a strategic step toward reviving Kejriwal's national political career amidst ongoing legal and political hurdles.

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who resigned from the Upper House earlier this year, contested and won the byelection by defeating senior Congress leader and two-time MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu by a margin of 10,637 votes. Arora's return to the Punjab Assembly is seen as a calculated move to vacate a Rajya Sabha seat, potentially paving the way for Kejriwal's elevation to Parliament's Upper House.