Opposition ramps up criticism as Kejriwal's Rajya Sabha entry buzz grows

Opposition leaders took a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its convener Arvind Kejriwal after the party nominated Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the Ludhiana West by-election on Wednesday.

The recent developments have sparked speculation about former Delhi chief minister Kejriwal's potential entry into the Upper House.

These developments have also intensified discussions about Kejriwal's political future and the dynamics within the opposition parties.

BJP leader and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu raised questions over AAP nominating sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora for Ludhiana West bypoll.

In a post on X, Bittu said, “Is Arvind Kejriwal plotting his own Rajya Sabha entry? Is he desperate for a government bungalow in Delhi? The man will go to any extent to maintain his dictatorship. Greed has no limits!”

BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya and Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sarin also linked Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora's nomination for the Ludhiana West bypoll to Arvind Kejriwal's bid to enter Rajya Sabha.

Congress leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also lambasted the AAP convener, stating that it is his bid to become “undercover chief minister” of Punjab.

“Work has started as per the plan made by Arvind Kejriwal. If Kejriwal becomes a Rajya Sabha member, he will control Punjab by becoming the "UnderCover Chief Minister". The face will be of Bhagwant Mann, but the control will be of Kejriwal,” said the former Punjab deputy chief minister in a post on X.

“After this, the people of Delhi will create such a situation that Bhagwant Mann will be removed on some pretext and Arvind Kejriwal himself will become the Chief Minister,” added Randhawa.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia also responded on the developments, stating “once again Punjab has been made to surrender before Delhi.”

“AAP has nominated Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as party candidate from Ludhiana West. Now he will resign as MP and in his place Arvind Kejriwal or Manish Sisodia will be made Rajya Sabha member. Once again Punjab has been made to surrender before Delhi,” the SAD leader said in a post on X.

“Punjab is paying the price but Bhagwant Mann is unfazed...he is least bothered about Punjab and Punjabis,” he added.

Amid speculations, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar dismissed the claims, calling them “absolutely wrong.”

“Arvind Kejriwal is not going to Rajya Sabha. As far as Arvind Kejriwal is concerned, 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. Arvind Kejriwal is the national convener of AAP. I agree that his demand is very high, but he is not limited to any one seat...,” she said.