The politics in Ludhiana West constituency of Punjab is again hit by fresh turbulence with the election win of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate and Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora being challenged legally. A petition was filed by Ludhiana's Jaswinder Malhi, alleging that Arora had suppressed important information at the time of his election submissions and also defied election rules by spending more than the allowed amount. The High Court has fixed August 13 to hear the case.
Sanjeev Arora, who had won Ludhiana West assembly by-election against Congress contestant Bharat Bhushan Ashu, is now facing investigation for suspected electoral malpractice. The petition alleges that Arora did not make disclosures regarding certain relevant facts concerning his financial position and poll expenses at the time of election.
More seriously, he is accused of exceeding the election expenditure limit of Rs 40 lakh by a considerable amount, having spent crores of rupees through non-accounted means. The petition also holds him responsible for the misuse of government machinery during his campaign, which gives credence to the suspicion that the election process was not transparent or fair.
Arora, who had shifted from being a member of Rajya Sabha to a state minister following the victory in the bypoll conducted earlier this year, stepped down from his corporate positions recently to devote himself to his public responsibilities. His resignation as Managing Director of Hampton Sky Realty Ltd and other related companies was made to provide him with undivided attention towards governance. Even though he is from a business family and an industrialist himself, these charges have overshadowed his political profile.
The case contributes to rising political tensions in Punjab, as opposition parties and civil society continue to call for accountability from holders of public office. The August 13 hearing in the High Court will be anxiously anticipated because it could establish a precedent on election transparency for the province.
In the meantime, Arora's party, AAP, ruling Punjab since 2022, insists that their candidate's win was legal and all election requirements were met. The party is still upbeat about defending Arora in court.
The new twist follows existing worries about election integrity and expenses in Indian politics, emphasizing the significance of the judiciary in ensuring democratic processes are protected.