Punjab Bypoll 2023: AAP Names Sushil Kumar Rinku As Candidate For Jalandhar Lok Sabha Byelection

AAP has named Sushil Kumar Rinku as its candidate for Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll. Rinku was included in the party by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann only yesterday.

Sushil Rinku with AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Raghav Chaddha.

Source : ANI

Aam Aadmi Party has named Sushil Kumar Rinku as its candidate for Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll. Rinku was included in the party by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann only yesterday.

AAP names Sushil Kumar Rinku as its candidate for Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll pic.twitter.com/cXkabi6WMJ

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2023

Sushil Rinku has left the Congress and joined the Aam Aadmi Party. Rinku has been Congress MLA from Jalandhar West in 2017. Hours after being expelled from the Congress, Sushil Rinku on Wednesday joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann.

The Congress party, citing indulging in "anti-party" activities, expelled Sushil Rinku, a former Congress MLA from Jalandhar West constituency, from the party. However, the ruling party AAP is viewing the development as a boost to the party in the upcoming Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypolls.

Sushil Rinku is welcome in AAP's family, I have full hope that the people of Jalandhar will help us in winning the Lok Sabha bypolls," Arvind Kejriwal said in a press briefing. The Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency has been lying vacant since January after Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary passed away due to a cardiac attack.

The 77-year-old collapsed in Ludhiana while walking alongside Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra's Punjab leg on January 14. The bypolls in the seat were necessitated after Chaudhary's death.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had condoled the death of Santokh Chaudhary.

"Shocked by the sudden demise of Santokh Singh Chaudhary. He was a down-to-earth hardworking leader, a pious person and a strong pillar of the Congress family, who dedicated his life to public service from Youth Congress to Member of Parliament. I express my condolences to the bereaved family," tweeted Rahul Gandhi in Hindi.

श्री संतोख सिंह चौधरी जी के अकस्मात निधन से स्तब्ध हूं।

वो ज़मीन से जुड़े परिश्रमी नेता, एक नेक इंसान और कांग्रेस परिवार के मज़बूत स्तम्भ थे, जिन्होंने युवा कांग्रेस से सांसद तक अपना जीवन जनसेवा को समर्पित किया।

शोकसंतप्त परिवार को अपनी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। pic.twitter.com/1osKsVMugp

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 14, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled Chaudhary's demise. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi had said, "Pained by the passing away of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary Ji. He will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti."

Pained by the passing away of MP Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary Ji. He will be remembered for his efforts to serve the people of Punjab. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 14, 2023

Notably, Congress party has announced Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, wife of Santokh Chaudhary, as its party candidate for the Jalandhar bypolls.