Is Arvind Kejriwal going to Rajya Sabha? Here's what AAP chief really thinks
In Ludhiana West, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora defeated his nearest rival and Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 10,676 votes after the 14th. Arora's win in the assembly election leaves a Rajya Sabha seat vacant. And thus the question doing the rounds in AAP political circles would be who will the party sent to the Upper House of Parliament to replace Arora.
Will it be party chief Arvind Kejriwal, his foremr deputy CM Manish Sisodia, or a leader from Punjab?
Kejriwal was asked this question during a press conference that he addressed after bypoll results on Monday. And here is what the former Delhi CM said:"Kejriwal nahin ja raha (Kejriwal is not going to the Rajya Sabha) though you (the media) have sent me there several times already."
Last time specualtion about three time former CM Kejriwal's Rajya Sabha bid were sparked in February when AAP fielded Arora from Ludhiana West seat. This seat fell vacant last month after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi in an accidental firing while cleaning his pistol.
The AAP had then denied the reports. '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 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 news agency ANI.
Arora, a businessman, was elected to theRajya Sabhain 2022 from Punjab. His tenure is set to end in 2028. Now that he will be an MLA, Arora will have to resign from the Parliament leaving the seat vacant.
Kejriwal nahin ja raha (Kejriwal is not going to the Rajya Sabha) though you (the media) have sent me there several times already.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the February 5 assembly election in Delhi bagging 48 seats. The AAP, which won the last two elections, won just 22 seats. The defeat meant AAP is only in power in Punjab. Kejriwal is not member of any house as of now after his recent defeat in Delhi Assembly Election.
Remember Kejriwal had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election against Narendra Modi from Varanasi in 2014. The AAP has 11 Rajya Sabha members, including Arora, presently. It has one Lok Sabha member too.
Key Takeaways Kejriwal is currently not seeking a Rajya Sabha seat despite media speculation.
Sanjeev Arora's recent win leaves a Rajya Sabha seat vacant, prompting questions about AAP's next move.
AAP's recent electoral performance raises questions about its future strategy and leadership roles.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Former Achampet MLA Guvvala Balaraju joins BJP, slams BRS
Bharatiya Janata Party State unit president N. Ramchander Rao remarked that his party was rising by the day in Telangana, citing the party's electoral performance. Welcoming former Achampet MLA Guvvala Balaraju into the party's fold at an event at the party's State headquarters here on Sunday, Mr. Rao said that Balaraju's decision reflects the BJP's emergence as the only credible alternative in Telangana. 'Balaraju's experience and services would be instrumental in strengthening the party further in the State,' he said. 'Our vote share rose from 13.09% in the 2023 Assembly elections to over 36% in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, with the party winning eight Lok Sabha seats while the BRS failed to secure even one,' he recalled, highlighting the BJP's recent win in the MLC elections. Taking a swipe at Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for 'frequent trips to Delhi', he said, 'He should stay put in Hyderabad, at least during the rains, to understand how people are suffering due to waterlogging since he holds the Municipal Administration & Urban Development portfolio too,' Rao said. Speaking on the occasion, a two-time MLA from Achampet (SC), Balaraju said he had chosen the BJP as it has been working for the defence of the nation and also striving hard for the welfare of the poor. Balaraju, who left the BRS on August 2, also slammed those calling him an 'opportunist', stating that he had indeed joined the BRS on his own to serve the people after being a successful entrepreneur as he thought 'political power is the master key' for many social and development issues. 'Nobody had given me a chance; it was my choice,' he claimed. The Dalit leader also accused the BRS of using him as a pawn to counter the Opposition for issues pertaining to the Scheduled Castes (SC). BJP MP K. Laxman, MLC Anji Reddy and other senior leaders were also present at the induction ceremony.
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Fast-track courts in Delhi fail to fulfil promise of providing speedy justice
The Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), meant to speed up trials in rape and child sexual abuse cases, are underperforming in Delhi, according to data recently presented in the Lok Sabha by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The national capital figures in a list of States and Union Territories with delayed trials in FTSCs. In a bid to curb crimes against women and children, the Central government had enacted the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, introducing stricter provisions. By March that year, 1,66,882 rape and POCSO cases were pending in courts across the country. Concerned by the backlog, in July 2019, the Supreme Court directed that any district with more than 100 pending POCSO cases must have an exclusive special court to handle them. Acting on this direction, the Central government, in August 2019, launched FTSCs exclusively for cases related to rape and child sexual abuse. Under the scheme, each FTSC is tasked with disposing of at least 165 cases annually. As of June 30 this year, 725 FTSCs, including 392 exclusive POCSO courts, are functional in 30 States and Union Territories. Delhi currently has 16 FTSCs, including 11 exclusively for POCSO matters. Since its inception, 6,278 cases have been institutedin these courts, but only 2,718 have been disposedof as of June 30. Toll on survivors Unnecessary delay in the legal process involving rape cases only serves to prolong the victim's suffering, according to jurists. 'The trauma experienced by survivors of sexual assault is profound and enduring, and each moment spent waiting for justice exacerbates their pain,' Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court had observed in a March 2024 ruling related to a rape case. 'This delay in the administration of justice not only interferes with their healing process but also prolongs their journey towards closure and recovery from such a traumatic experience,' Justice Sharma noted. 'Needless delays' Advocate Shilpi Jain, who secured a conviction in just 11 days in a high-profile German tourist rape case in Alwar, Rajasthan, in 2006, says the delays are 'avoidable'. 'Fast-track special courts are not fast at all. These cases rarely have many witnesses. They could conclude in two months if there's seriousness,' Ms. Jain stated. 'As far as rape cases are concerned, there is rarely any eyewitness. Cross-examination is never lengthy. So it should conclude in two months,' she said. 'The spirit behind setting up FTSCs was that these courts must finish the cases much before regular courts. But, they end up becoming the same,' she commented, attributing delays to a lack of seriousness, which has to come from the State. 'Political gimmick' Meanwhile, senior advocate Rebecca John questioned the very premise of FTSCs, calling them a 'political gimmick'. 'I have been a long-term opponent of FTSCs. How many cases can you fast-track? The docket is overflowing with cases. When you fast-track one case, it is at the cost of another case,' the senior advocate told The Hindu. 'It is nothing but a political gimmick which is employed from time to time to satisfy public outrage, but nothing comes out of it. There is no substitute for more infrastructure. You can't pull out the same judges from the same pool and give them a few cases, and say fast track it,' Ms. John underscored.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Warangal, K'nagar smart city projects crawl, top pendency
1 2 Hyderabad: Forget the talk of a second capital for Telangana, the state's two smart cities, Warangal and Karimnagar, are struggling to live up to their promise under the national Smart City Mission. Nearly a decade after the initiative began, both cities remain among the slowest performers in the country, with a large chunk of projects still incomplete despite substantial central funding and ambitious targets. According to the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs, Warangal and Karimnagar together have 52 ongoing projects, the highest number of pending works for any state under SCM. Karimnagar has completed about 75% of its projects, while Warangal lags behind with only 66% completion. In Warangal, out of 119 projects worth 1,800 crore, 79 projects valued at 1,386 crore have been completed, leaving 40 works still underway. Karimnagar has finished 37 of its 49 projects costing 1,094 crore, with 12 pending. The state has already fully utilised central funds of 805 crore allocated for these projects. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 'Frequent changes in plans' "As per SCM guidelines, 500 crore in central financial assistance was allocated to each of the cities. As of July 31, Greater Warangal and Karimnagar were able to claim 377 crore and 429 crore respectively," Union minister for housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal Khattar told the Rajya Sabha. Officials say progress has been delayed by legal disputes, slow departmental clearances, land acquisition hurdles, shortage of vendors and resources, and challenges in fully integrating municipal departments with Integrated Command and Control Centres. Frequent changes in project plans have further slowed execution. In Warangal's case, the challenges have been compounded by administrative instability. The Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation has seen nine municipal commissioners in the past decade, disrupting consistent monitoring and follow-up of smart city works. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
