The AAP-Side Of Ludhiana Bypoll Win: Rajya Sabha Route Is Now Open For Arvind Kejriwal

Last Updated:June 23, 2025, 14:45 IST

A Rajya Sabha entry was being explored by the AAP’s top leadership after Arvind Kejriwal failed to retain his New Delhi Assembly seat

There has been no official announcement from the party or Kejriwal about his plans after the Delhi election loss. (File)

The Aam Aadmi Party’s win in the Ludhiana West bypoll has come as a timely boost for Arvind Kejriwal, offering a political opening after his February setback in Delhi. With Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora resigning to become an MLA, a vacant seat in the Upper House from Punjab could now be within Kejriwal’s reach.

As News18 had reported earlier this year, a Rajya Sabha entry was already being explored by the AAP’s top leadership after Kejriwal failed to retain his New Delhi Assembly seat.

The party’s decision to field Arora in the Ludhiana bypoll in February further signalled the plan. His name was announced by the party weeks after the Delhi results and months before the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the Punjab election. With Arora’s victory in the assembly bypoll, the door may open for Kejriwal to enter Parliament via Punjab.

There has been no official announcement from the party or Kejriwal about his plans after the Delhi election loss. Kejriwal had been spending most of his time in Punjab and put the party’s focus on the only state where it is in power. Punjab is expected to face assembly polls in early 2027.

Arora secured 35,179 votes with a lead margin of 10,0637 votes over Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Jiwan Gupta stood third.

WHY RAJYA SABHA?

From winning more than 60 of the 70 seats in 2015 and 2020, the AAP’s tally in the Delhi assembly dropped to just 22 in 2025. Kejriwal and some of his important leaders lost their seats in Delhi. Now, the party is looking for options to stay politically relevant, until it secures power in another state.

A Rajya Sabha entry would also allow Kejriwal to emerge as a national voice, especially at a time when the party is overcoming the setbacks in Delhi. His presence in the upper house could position him as a leader beyond Delhi and Punjab — furthering his long-standing aspiration to play a national role.

WHY PUNJAB?

The Rajya Sabha entry from Punjab now appears to be the most viable option for Kejriwal. With Arora on board, the AAP has 10 seats in Rajya Sabha – three from Delhi and seven from Punjab.

For a party to get a seat in the Rajya Sabha, they need to have a majority in the assembly. Since the AAP has lost its majority in the Delhi assembly, bypolls for Rajya Sabha from Delhi will not help Kejriwal.

However, in Punjab, the AAP enjoys a clear majority. It will be a safer and more strategic route for Kejriwal to secure a Rajya Sabha seat in bypolls. The Rajya Sabha term for this seat will run until 2028.

Speaking to News18, an AAP spokesperson said that the party would like to see its leader raise public issues in the Rajya Sabha. They neither confirmed nor denied the possibility.

“The aim is not to hold a position but being an elected representative adds authority to what he says. There are so many issues our party raises in Parliament. Kejriwal’s voice, if he decides to join the RS, will further add weight to the party’s stand," the AAP leader said, demanding anonymity.

WHAT NEXT?

Now that Arora has won the assembly seat, he will have around 10 days to vacate one of the two seats he represents – MP from Punjab in Rajya Sabha and newly elected MLA from Ludhiana West in Punjab Assembly. The obvious choice will be to resign from the Rajya Sabha seat.

After Arora’s resignation, the Rajya Sabha seat has to be filled within six months. The ECI will announce the schedule for the Rajya Sabha bypolls and the elections will be held. The winning candidate will formally replace Arora in the Upper House. As the AAP has 94 of the 117 seats, the election will only be a formality for the party.

PUNJAB ASSEMBLY

AAP’s victory in the assembly bypolls has reaffirmed the public mandate in favour of the party that already enjoys a comfortable majority in Punjab. The Ludhiana West seat fell vacant following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi in January.

In November 2024, the AAP added three more assembly seats to its kitty as it won in Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, and Dera Baba Nanak for the first time in by-elections in Punjab. Although it lost the Barnala seat that it won in the 2017 and 2022 elections.

The AAP is likely to channel all its political energy into Punjab to ensure it continues its control over the state. After Delhi, Punjab remains the only state where the AAP has been able to form a government.

AAP RETAINS GROUND IN GUJARAT

Along with Ludhiana West, the AAP also contested two bypoll assembly seats from Gujarat – Visavadar and Kadi. AAP’s Gopal Italia is the new MLA from Visavadar as he secured 75,942 votes and a victory margin of 17,554 votes against Kirit Patel from BJP.

In the 2022 assembly polls, the AAP was elected from. However, the sitting MLA Bhupendra Bhayani resigned from the party and moved to BJP earlier this year. Thus, the bypoll in the Visavadar seat became necessary. Although the BJP has ruled Gujarat since 1998, the Visavadar seat last elected the BJP in 2007.

Speaking at the roadshow for the filing of Italia’s nomination papers, Kejriwal said for the last 18 years, the people of Visavadar have not allowed the BJP to enter, and the party has not been able to win an election here in all these years.

With this victory, AAP retained control over six seats in Gujarat – which will also go for assembly polls in 2027.

News elections The AAP-Side Of Ludhiana Bypoll Win: Rajya Sabha Route Is Now Open For Arvind Kejriwal