CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday nominated five persons for the Rajya Sabha from Punjab where it stormed to power in recently-held assembly elections.
The five nominees include former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Raghav Chadha, Lovely Professional University’s (LPU) Founder-Chancellor Dr. Ashok Mittal, IIT Professor Dr Sandeep Pathak, and Ludhiana-based industrialist Sanjeev Arora.
The five Rajya Sabha seats from the state will fall vacant in April 2022 and today is the last day for filing nomination.
Speaking to the media after filing his nomination papers, Harbhajan Singh said he will focus on the promotion of sports in the country. “My focus will be on the development of sports and connecting the youth of Punjab with sports. A country like India should win 200 medals in the Olympics, I will do everything to promote sports in the country,” he said.
AAP MLA Raghav Chadha, who represents Rajinder Nagar constituency in the Delhi assembly, said he will raise the issues related to the people of Punjab and protect their interests in the Upper House of Parliament.
“I am grateful and humbled by the faith and trust reposed in me by my leader, my mentor Arvind Kejriwal Ji and my elder brother Bhagwant Mann ji. I pray that God blesses me with the strength and ability to meet my party’s expectations with utmost integrity and sincerity,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira raised objections to the Rajya Sabha nominees of the AAP.
“If this list of probable Rajya Sabha candidates by Aam Aadmi Party is true, it is most saddening news for Punjab and will be the first discrimination for our state. We’ll oppose tooth and nail any non-Punjabi being nominated. This is also a joke with AAP workers who have worked for the party,” he tweeted.