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Kejriwal is neither the chief minister, nor an MP, or an MLA, and Punjab is the only state where the AAP is in power and has a tenure till 2027
Senior AAP leaders and MPs like Malvinder Singh Kang and Gurmeet Singh told News18 that there was no likelihood of Kejriwal replacing Bhagwant Mann as Punjab CM and rubbished the news as pure speculations in media. (PTI)
Over 90 MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, including chief minister Bhagwant Mann, and the party’s 13 MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha drove down to Kapurthala House in Delhi on Tuesday to meet AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal, days after the Delhi debacle. The big meeting lasted just about 25 minutes.
This has now triggered speculation over Kejriwal’s next move and his political future as he is neither the chief minister, nor an MP, or an MLA. Punjab is the only state where the AAP is in power and has a tenure till 2027. So, what are his options?
Become a Rajya Sabha MP
Kejriwal can enter the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. The party has 10 Rajya Sabha MPs, seven from Punjab and three from Delhi. AAP will need to make one of them resign for Kejriwal’s entry. However, AAP cannot win back the Rajya Sabha seat if a Delhi Rajya Sabha MP resigns, since it no longer has the numbers in Delhi. But it does have 93 MLAs and three MPs in Punjab and can easily regain a seat from there. AAP’s national general secretary, Sandeep Pathak, is a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and may make may for Kejriwal’s entry. He has a tenure till 2028, so it will give time to Kejriwal to focus on a Delhi election in 2029-30 post his tenure ending in 2028. This will also give Kejriwal a chance to rub shoulders with senior politicians in the Upper House of Parliament.
Become Punjab CM
Though this is an unlikely option and has been dismissed by senior AAP leaders who say Bhagwant Mann will continue as the chief minister till 2027, speculation is abound given Kejriwal’s interest in Punjab’s affairs. There is an assembly bypoll due in the Ludhiana West seat after an AAP MLA from there passed away last month. Kejriwal can contest from this seat to enter the Punjab assembly and replace Mann as the CM.
However, senior AAP leaders and MPs like Malvinder Singh Kang and Gurmeet Singh told News18 that nothing of this sort is going to happen and these are pure speculations in media.
Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa told News18 that Kejriwal cannot remain without power and he would either try becoming Punjab CM or a Rajya Sabha MP from the state. “However, Punjab does not accept outsiders,” Randhawa said. He said there will be a mid-term election in Punjab if Kejriwal becomes the chief minister.
Continue as AAP National Convener
Another option for Kejriwal is to focus purely on his party and continue in his existing position as national convener. Some AAP leaders said this is the best option as the party needs guidance and leadership like never before and work on the organisation and the grassroots. Given that the party still has a 43 per cent vote share in Delhi, it would not be politically prudent for Kejriwal to turn towards Punjab, a senior AAP leader told News18. Kejriwal’s legal troubles could also be a hurdle in other roles.
