Not going to RS: Arvind Kejriwal after AAP MP Sanjeev Arora wins Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll
New Delhi, Jun 23 (PTI): Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said he would not go to the Rajya Sabha after the party's sitting Upper House member Sanjeev Arora won the Ludhiana West bypolls in Punjab.
Arora will have to resign from the Rajya Sabha. During the campaign, Kejriwal announced that Arora would be inducted into the Cabinet of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann if he won the bypoll.
At a press conference on Monday, Kejriwal was asked whom the party will nominate in Arora's place. In a lighter vein, he replied, "Many times I have been sent to the Rajya Sabha."
The AAP chief said the party's political affairs committee would decide whom to nominate but he is not going to the Upper House.
After Arora's name was announced as the AAP candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll, the opposition had been claiming that Kejriwal would enter the Rajya Sabha in Arora's place.
The names of senior leaders of the party -- Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain -- are doing the rounds as probable candidates for Arora's replacement.
Sisodia was made the in-charge of Punjab in place of Jarnail Singh after the Delhi poll debacle while Jain was named as co-incharge of the state. The former Delhi deputy chief minister and Jain are trusted lieutenants of Kejriwal who have stood with him through thick and thin.
Sisodia has been spending most of his time in Punjab. He is likely to lead a victory march in Ludhiana West on Tuesday along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
However, a party functionary remarked it was too early to say that Sisodia would be the party's pick for the Upper House.
"The party is currently focussing on bringing reforms in the state. Education is one of the key areas where the party wants to work. We do not know when the Rajya Sabha polls will be held. It is too early to decide on any name," said the functionary.
Another functionary said the party could also nominate a Punjab leader to the Rajya Sabha.
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Ruturaj scores unbeaten 67 as CSK beat MI by eight wickets
Chennai (PTI): Ruturaj Gaikwad struck his second successive half-century of the season as Chennai Super Kings cruised to a commanding eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League match here on Saturday.
Gaikwad remained unbeaten on 67 off 48 balls, stitching an unbroken 98-run stand for the third wicket with Kartik Sharma (54 not out) to comfortably chase down the target of 160 after Mumbai were stopped at 159 for seven.
Mumbai Indians' struggles continued as they only have two wins in nine matches, remaining on four points, while CSK climbed to eight points from nine games.
Earlier, MI's innings never quite gained momentum, with Naman Dhir the lone bright spot with a 57. He walked in after Will Jacks fell for one in the second over and added 40 runs for the third wicket with Suryakumar Yadav (21).
For CSK, left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad (2/26) was the pick of the bowlers, removing Ryan Rickelton (37) and Tilak Varma (5), while Anshul Kamboj (3/32) impressed with an effective spell.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 159 for 7 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 37, Naman Dhir 57; Noor Ahmed 2/26, Anshul Kamboj 3/32).
Chennai Super Kings: 160 for 2 in 18.1 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 67 not out, Urvil Patel 24, Kartik Sharma 54 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 1/20).
