The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate for the upcoming Punjab Assembly bypoll in Ludhiana West. This seat became vacant last month following the unfortunate demise of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi in an accident.
If Arora secures a victory, he will be required to step down from his Rajya Sabha position, sparking speculation that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal—who recently lost his Delhi assembly membership—might be nominated as his replacement. However, the party has dismissed such claims.
Who is Sanjeev Arora
Sanjeev Arora, 61, is an alumnus of SCD Government College, Ludhiana, affiliated with Punjab University, Chandigarh. His father, Pran Arora, established a garment and knitwear business, which later grew into Ritesh Properties and Industries Limited (RPIL). Under Arora’s leadership, RPIL diversified into real estate, industrial, commercial, and housing projects. In 2006, he rebranded the company as Hampton Sky Realty Limited (HSRL), now a publicly traded entity on the Bombay Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of ₹900 crore. His projects, including Hampton Business Park and Hampton Homes on Chandigarh Road, Ludhiana, house around 70 industries.
Arora has been managing his export business, Ritesh Industries Ltd, for over three decades, primarily trading with the United States and operating an office in Virginia. As Chairman and Managing Director of RPIL, he has played a key role in expanding the company’s portfolio.
In recognition of his philanthropic contributions, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh honored him with a state award in 2018, by which time his trust had facilitated the treatment of over 100 cancer patients.
Beyond real estate, Arora ventured into fashion by launching the women’s clothing brand Femella in 2018, which is now available on major online platforms such as Myntra, Reliance Ajio, Tata Cliq, and Nykaa. The following year, he entered the non-ferrous metal industry with Teneron Limited, which collaborates with Suzuki Motors’ Gujarat plant under the Make in India initiative.
Additionally, Arora is actively involved in various organizations. He serves on the governing board of Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, is a member of the Apex Council of the Punjab Cricket Association, and is associated with the Ved Mandir Trust in Daresi, Punjab.
AAP currently has seven Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab: Sandeep Pathak, Raghav Chadha, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, industrialist Vikramjit Singh, and Sanjeev Arora.
