CHANDIGARH, June 23— With a crucial bypoll victory in Ludhiana West under its belt, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is preparing for a Cabinet expansion in Punjab, paving the way for newly elected MLA Sanjeev Arora to be inducted as a minister. Party insiders confirmed on Monday that the reshuffle could take place “very soon.”
Arora’s election means he will step down as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, creating a high-profile vacancy in the Upper House and potentially opening the door for a top party leader to step in. His resignation is expected to be submitted in the coming days.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal had publicly committed during the campaign that Arora would be made a minister if elected. That promise is now set to materialize. Though the exact portfolio remains under wraps, senior party functionaries indicated that at least one sitting minister may be asked to make way for the industrialist-turned-politician, and a reshuffling of departments is likely.
The Ludhiana West win has delivered a strong political boost for AAP, especially after the party’s drubbing in the Delhi Assembly elections earlier this year. With nearly 19 months still remaining before the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls, the result is seen as a timely endorsement of the ruling party’s governance amid shifting political winds.
“This win is not just about one seat — it’s about the reaffirmation of trust in our leadership and vision,” an AAP leader said, requesting anonymity.
The bypoll had become a prestige battle for the AAP following the sudden death of sitting MLA Gurpreet Singh Gogi. The party deployed its top brass to campaign aggressively: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, his wife Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann, Kejriwal, and senior leaders like Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain all campaigned extensively in the constituency.
Ludhiana West posed unique challenges. With nearly 65% of its voters being Hindu, and a strong presence of traders and businessmen — a demographic traditionally aligned with the BJP — the constituency was considered difficult turf. The Congress had also fielded a seasoned candidate, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a former MLA who had won the seat in both 2012 and 2017.
Yet, AAP was the first to announce its candidate back in March, giving Arora — a first-time contestant with no political baggage — a crucial head start. His clean image and the ruling party’s focused outreach helped sway voters. Political observers believe the electorate leaned towards continuity and stability, opting to back the sitting government with the next general election still some distance away.
Party sources say the Cabinet expansion will not only accommodate Arora but also aim to recalibrate ministerial roles for maximum performance ahead of the next polls.
While formal announcements are awaited, AAP leaders say the Ludhiana West result has reinvigorated the party’s Punjab unit. “The victory signals that despite national headwinds, AAP’s governance record and grassroots connect in Punjab are still holding strong,” a party strategist said.
