From industrialist to politician: Who is Rajinder Gupta, AAP's candidate for Rajya Sabha bypoll

The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday announced industrialist Rajinder Gupta as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha bypoll in Punjab. The elections, scheduled on October 24, are conducted to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of AAP’s Sanjeev Arora, who stepped down from the Upper House following his election to the state assembly.

Sanjeev Arora is now serving as a minister in the Punjab Cabinet led by Bhagwant Mann.

Who is Rajinder Gupta?

Industrialist-turned politician, Rajinder Gupta is the founder & chairman of Trident Limited, the flagship company of a billion-dollar enterprise, Trident Group. He is also a Padma Shri Recipient.

Recently, he resigned as the vice-chairman of the State Economic Policy and Planning Board and as chairperson of the Kali Devi temple advisory committee. This move fuelled speculation that the AAP could field him for the bypoll.

AAP's position in Punjab assembly:

The Aam Aadmi Party enjoys an overwhelming majority in the 117-member state Assembly of Punjab. After major speculations around Arvind Kejriwal entering the Rajya Sabha from Punjab, the supremo clarified in June that there are no such plans. His decision to not throw his hat into the ring came after Arora won the Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll.

At a press conference in Delhi on June 23, reporters asked Kejriwal who the party would nominate in Arora's place. In a lighter vein, he replied, "I have been sent to the Rajya Sabha many times."

The party's political affairs committee would decide whom to nominate, but he is not going to the Upper House, the AAP chief said.