Ludhiana: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is preparing to expand the Punjab Cabinet following its victory in the Ludhiana West by-election. Newly elected MLA Sanjeev Arora is expected to be inducted as a minister, party sources said.
Arora’s elevation will also mean he will resign from his current Rajya Sabha position, clearing the way for a senior party leader to be nominated to the Upper House of Parliament.
Though the exact department Arora will be allotted remains undecided, there is speculation that at least one current minister may be asked to step down and a cabinet reshuffle could follow.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had publicly promised during the campaign that Arora would be made a minister if he won. The party is reportedly planning to carry out the cabinet expansion “very soon.”
Arora, a prominent industrialist, secured a convincing win in the Ludhiana West bypoll, which was seen as a prestige battle for the AAP following the death of sitting MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. The victory comes at a crucial time for AAP, which had recently suffered a setback in the Delhi Assembly elections held earlier this year.
Senior AAP leaders, including Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, campaigned extensively in Ludhiana West. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal also participated in multiple roadshows and public meetings, with Mann’s wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur, also joining the outreach efforts.
