Punjabis Will Always Oppose Kejriwal's Rajya Sabha Bid: Delhi Minister
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Delhi’s Food Supply and Industry Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, has declared that Punjabis will resist Arvind Kejriwal's attempts to secure a Rajya Sabha seat from Punjab. Sirsa emphasized the need for the people of Ludhiana (West) to defeat Sanjiv Arora in the by-election, thwarting Kejriwal’s ambitions.
Key Takeaways
- Punjabis oppose Kejriwal's Rajya Sabha aspirations.
- Sanjiv Arora is the AAP candidate for Ludhiana (West).
- Sirsa claims AAP will face a major setback in upcoming elections.
- Kejriwal's leadership among Punjab MLAs is questioned.
- Election Commission yet to announce by-poll schedule.
Chandigarh, Feb 26 (NationPress) The Food Supply and Industry Minister of Delhi, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, stated on Wednesday that Punjabis will never permit AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal to secure a seat in the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.
He called upon the people of Ludhiana (West) to ensure Sanjiv Arora faces defeat in the upcoming by-election, thus shattering Kejriwal's aspirations.
Sirsa criticized Kejriwal as a “power-hungry” individual who cannot function without authority, adding that following a significant loss in Delhi, he attempted to persuade Punjab MLAs to elect him as their leader, aiming to become Chief Minister.
He remarked that the MLAs outright rejected his directives, asserting that Punjabis would resist their decisions vigorously upon entering the villages.
Sirsa further mentioned that Kejriwal has put forward Sanjiv Arora as the candidate for the Rajya Sabha election from Ludhiana (West), promising him a ministerial position in exchange for the Rajya Sabha seat.
“Kejriwal’s objective is to gain entry into Parliament by being elected as a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab,” he stated.
The BJP National Secretary insisted that the residents of Punjab will thwart Kejriwal’s plans, ensuring a decisive defeat for Arora in the by-election, leaving Kejriwal’s Rajya Sabha ambitions unfulfilled.
He added that AAP’s loss in the Ludhiana by-election would also set the stage for AAP’s ousting in the 2027 elections, mirroring their recent defeat in Delhi.
In response, AAP's Punjab spokesperson Neel Garg labeled the opposition’s claims as mere rumors concerning either party leader Kejriwal or Sisodia replacing Arora in the Rajya Sabha.
“The BJP’s rumor mills are in full swing. Currently, the election for Ludhiana (West) has not been announced. Arora has been selected as the party’s candidate due to his popularity in Ludhiana. He hasn't resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership yet, making it impossible for him to contest without resignation,” Garg informed the media.
Defending the party’s choice, Kultar Sandhwan, Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, stated that a party has the right to nominate anyone to the Rajya Sabha from any location.
“It’s their prerogative. What’s illegal about this? Even Manmohan Singh was elected to the Rajya Sabha from a different state. The party will decide on the candidate, and I will welcome whoever they choose,” Sandhwan remarked.
The seat for Ludhiana (West) became vacant following the demise of Gurpreet Gogi Bassi, aged 58, who tragically died from a gunshot wound at his residence last month.
The Election Commission of India has yet to disclose the schedule for the elections in this constituency. Kejriwal suffered a loss in the New Delhi seat to the BJP’s Parvesh Verma in the recently concluded assembly elections.
