The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday announced Ludhiana-based business tycoon and Padma Shri Rajinder Gupta as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. Gupta, Chairman Emeritus of the Trident Group, had recently resigned as Vice Chairman of the Punjab Economic Policy and Planning Board, fuelled speculation that he might be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, a development that was confirmed today.

Gupta will fill the AAP's Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant in July after then MP Sanjeev Arora resigned to contest the Ludhiana West assembly by-election. Arora is now a cabinet minister in Punjab.

Today's AAP announcement has put to rest rumours that either party supremo Arvind Kejriwal or his deputy Manish Sisodia would use the seat to enter the Rajya Sabha.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued today regarding Rajinder Gupta’s nomination, the AAP said: “The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Aam Aadmi Party hereby nominates Rajinder Gupta as a candidate for election to the Rajya Sabha by the members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. We wish him great success in this endeavor and in all the responsibilities that lie ahead.”

AAP Rajinder Gupta Rajya Sabha Punjab Politics Trident Group Sanjeev Arora Padma Shri Ludhiana Arvind Kejriwal