Chandigarh: Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate for Rajya Sabha elections Rajinder Gupta will file his nomination papers today. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other senior leaders of the party are likely to be present on the occassion.
The development came after, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday officially announced industrialist and Trident Group chairman Rajinder Gupta as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha bypoll in Punjab.
Resignation of Sanjeev Arora
The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Sanjeev Arora, who contested and won an Assembly bypoll from Ludhiana West and later became a minister in the Punjab government. Rajinder Gupta is expected to file his nomination in the Punjab Assembly later today, reportedly in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
“The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of Aam Aadmi Party hereby announces to nominate Shri Rajinder Gupta as a candidate for election to the Rajya Sabha by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Punjab,” the party said in its official announcement.
Earlier, Kamal Oswal of the Oswal Group was seen as the frontrunner for the seat, but sources say Gupta’s name emerged during the final weeks of deliberation.
Nomination Process Began
The nomination process for the Punjab Rajya Sabha bypoll began and voting for the lone seat will be held on October 24. With AAP having an overwhelming majority in the 117-member state Assembly, Tajinder Gupta is most likely to grab a seat in the Upper House.
Rajinder Gupta stepped down as vice-chairman of the State Economic Policy and Planning Board and as chairperson of the Kali Devi Temple Advisory Committee, sparking speculation about his potential AAP candidacy in the bypoll.