The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made notable decisions regarding its Rajya Sabha nominations, aiming to fill vacant seats this month. Swati Maliwal, the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and a seasoned AAP member, has been nominated as the newest Rajya Sabha MP. Additionally, AAP will renominate Sanjay Singh and N D Gupta for their second terms.
AAP has the responsibility to nominate three individuals for the Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant in Delhi this month. Sushil Gupta, the current MP, expressed his intention to shift focus towards electoral politics in Haryana. Acknowledging his decision, a senior AAP leader mentioned, “…we respect his decision to pursue this path.”
In a noteworthy development, a Delhi court has granted permission for Sanjay Singh, currently in custody related to a case involving the Delhi excise policy, to sign his renomination documents from jail. Singh, who serves as AAP’s UP in-charge, has been a vocal critic of the BJP government in the Upper House.
There are allegations from AAP that Singh’s arrest is part of a ‘fake’ case to silence him, considering his role as a prominent critic of the BJP government and as the party’s key liaison with other Opposition parties and leaders in Parliament.
While the party leaders initially contemplated nominating two new faces, concerns about Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister, facing potential ED arrests led to reconsideration. The party aims to show support for leaders like Sanjay Singh, who are under investigation by the BJP through various agencies.
According to the Election Commission of India (EC) schedule, January 9 is the deadline for Rajya Sabha nominations. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on January 10, with the last date for withdrawal of candidatures on January 12. If necessary, a poll shall be conducted on January 19, and the election is scheduled to be completed by January 23.
Swati Maliwal, the nominee for the Rajya Sabha, has an illustrious background in activism, advocating for women’s rights and social causes. Her association with campaigns against violence on women, the push for stringent laws, and promotion of gender equality has been significant. Since her appointment as the DCW Chairperson in 2015, Maliwal has played a pivotal role in addressing issues like acid attacks, sexual harassment, and enhancing women’s safety in Delhi.
