AAP nominates DCW chief Swati Maliwal for Rajya Sabha, renominates Sanjay Singh

New Delhi: Jailed AAP MP Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta are set to secure a second term in the Rajya Sabha, as AAP, on Friday, approved their nominations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Swati Maliwal, Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, has been chosen to replace Sushil Kumar Gupta.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party Political Affairs Committee here chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The committee endorsed the renomination of Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta, and in response to Sushil Gupta's request to shift focus to electoral politics in Haryana, Swati Maliwal was selected as his replacement.

Singh is presently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy case. Initially, there was speculation that Singh, presently the party's floor leader and a close Kejriwal aide, may not be fielded.

The announcement came after a local court allowed Singh to sign forms and documents for his Rajya Sabha renomination. Special Judge M K Nagpal passed the order on an application filed by Singh seeking a direction to the Tihar Jail Superintendent to allow him to sign the documents. His term ends on January 27 and the last date of nomination is January 9.

In response to Singh's renomination, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor alleged that Kejriwal's endorsement indicates his complicity in Singh's corruption. Kapoor further claimed that Maliwal's nomination was a move by Kejriwal to address the power struggle between Maliwal and Atishi, arising from the latter's growing prominence as a minister.

“Maliwal had been making Atishi uncomfortable by raising issues like lack of street lights for women's safety on the streets,” he alleged.

Senior Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit expressed his disagreement with the long incarceration of Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh on suspicion, stating that while he may oppose AAP politically, he finds their extended detention unjustifiable.

Dikshit commented, "The investigation is ongoing, but Sanjay Singh has not been found guilty yet. It has been a considerable amount of time since Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have been in jail. This is not an appropriate manner to keep someone behind bars solely based on suspicion. Sanjay Singh has the right to file his nomination."

Swati Maliwal, the new entrant among the candidates, stepped down as DCW Chairperson following the announcement of her nomination. She is known as a close aide to CM Kejriwal. She has been associated with various campaigns and movements aimed at combating violence against women, advocating for stricter laws, and promoting gender equality, the party said.

She was appointed Chairperson of DCW in 2015. AAP said she has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives to address issues such as acid attacks, sexual harassment, and women's safety in Delhi. "Her dedication to women's welfare and tireless efforts in advocating for their rights have made her a prominent figure in the realm of social activism in India," it added.

AAP currently holds 10 seats in the Rajya Sabha, with seven from Punjab and three from Delhi. The party is expected to retain this number. In the Delhi Assembly, AAP commands a majority with 62 MLAs, while the BJP has eight. With sufficient numbers, AAP is well-positioned to ensure all three of its candidates secure victory comfortably through proportional voting.