Aman Arora
Aman Arora is an Indian politician affiliated with the Aam Aadmi Party, representing the Sunam constituency in the Punjab Legislative Assembly since 2017.[1] Elected by a significant margin in both 2017 and 2022, he transitioned from a business career to politics, emphasizing anti-corruption reforms central to AAP's platform.[2] As a Cabinet Minister in Punjab since 2022, Arora has overseen portfolios including Information and Public Relations, New and Renewable Energy Sources, and Housing and Urban Development, contributing to state initiatives on governance transparency and infrastructure.[3] In November 2024, he was appointed president of AAP's Punjab unit, succeeding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in that organizational role.[4] His tenure has included notable controversies, such as a 2023 court conviction sentencing him to two years' imprisonment for assaulting his brother-in-law in a 2008 election-related dispute, though he continued serving amid appeals.[5][6]Early life and education
Family background and upbringing
Aman Arora was born on 12 August 1974 in Sunam, Sangrur district, Punjab, India, to Bhagwan Das Arora and Parmeshwari Devi.[7][8] His father, Bhagwan Das Arora, was a prominent Congress politician who served as a two-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Sunam constituency, winning elections including in 1992, and held ministerial positions in the Punjab government, notably under Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar in 1995 before his death in 2000.[9][10] Arora was raised in Sunam amid a politically engaged family environment, where he observed his father's work in local governance and public welfare, fostering an early exposure to political activities.[8] The family background included involvement in Congress politics, though post his father's death, internal disputes emerged among relatives over legacy and assets.[11]Academic qualifications
Arora completed his schooling at General Gurnam Singh Public School in Sangrur.[2] He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, awarded in 1996.[1]Pre-political career
Business ventures
Prior to his entry into politics, Aman Arora pursued a career in business, with primary involvement in the transport and leasing sector. He serves as a director of Amandeep Transport and Leasing India Private Limited, a company incorporated on April 23, 1996, in Punjab, specializing in other passenger road transport and leasing activities (CIN: U60221PB1996PTC018072). The company's other directors include his spouse, Sabina Arora, and Sandeep Gilhotra. Arora's 2022 election affidavit discloses his ownership of shares in Amandeep Transport and Leasing India Private Limited, valued at approximately Rs 2.14 crore, reflecting substantial financial interest in the venture.[1] His self-declared profession is listed as business, with income from these activities exceeding Rs 2.77 crore in the 2020-21 financial year.[1] He also holds shares in Radiant Solar Energies Private Limited (CIN: U40101PB2015PTC039298), a company engaged in solar power generation, valued at Rs 1.73 crore as of 2022 disclosures; his spouse is a director there.[1] Additionally, Arora has provided advances to Petringo Care Private Limited (CIN: U72900CH2021PTC043795), an IT-enabled services firm, amounting to Rs 25.91 lakh.[1] These investments indicate diversification into renewable energy and technology sectors alongside his core transport operations.Community involvement
Prior to his formal entry into the Aam Aadmi Party in 2016, Aman Arora was recognized among Sunam residents for operating a local NGO dedicated to community welfare initiatives, which helped build his grassroots support base in the constituency.[12] This involvement drew on the legacy of public service from his father, Bhagwan Das Arora, a two-time MLA and former Punjab minister, though specific projects or founding dates for the NGO remain undocumented in public records.[13] Arora's early efforts focused on addressing local needs in Sangrur district, complementing his business activities and prior electoral contests in 2007 and 2012 under other parties.[2]Entry into politics
Joining Aam Aadmi Party
Aman Arora, a former member of the Indian National Congress and All India Congress Committee (AICC) coordinator for Sunam, formally joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on January 9, 2016, during a function held at his residence in Sunam, Punjab.[14][15] His defection was described as a setback for the Congress party in Punjab, marking him as the third prominent leader from the state unit to switch to AAP within a short period.[9][16] Arora's move aligned with AAP's expanding influence in Punjab ahead of the 2017 assembly elections, where the party sought to capitalize on anti-incumbency against the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition and dissatisfaction within Congress ranks.[14] As the son of late Punjab minister Bhagwan Das Arora, who had served under Congress governments, Aman Arora brought local political lineage and community ties from Sangrur district to AAP's organizational efforts in rural Punjab.[9] Following his induction, Arora quickly integrated into AAP's Punjab structure, leveraging his prior experience in local Congress activities to support the party's grassroots mobilization, though specific roles at the time of joining were not formally announced beyond membership.[16] This transition positioned him for subsequent candidacy in the Sunam constituency, reflecting AAP's strategy of absorbing defectors with established regional networks.[15]Initial campaigns
Arora defected from the Indian National Congress and formally joined the Aam Aadmi Party on January 9, 2016, in Sunam, Sangrur district, citing disillusionment with Congress's internal dynamics and a commitment to combat corruption while serving Punjab's populace.[17] [14] The event, attended by AAP figures including Punjab MP Bhagwant Mann and national in-charge Sanjay Singh, was framed by party leaders as a strategic gain in their broader push to dismantle entrenched political corruption and "save Punjab" through outsider-led reforms.[17] As a recent entrant with prior electoral experience in Sunam—having contested unsuccessfully for Congress in the 2007 and 2012 Punjab Assembly elections—Arora's early AAP role emphasized grassroots mobilization in the Malwa region, drawing on his familial political roots (his father, Bhagwan Dass Arora, had served as a Congress MLA from Sunam in 1992 and 1997).[17] [18] This involved promoting AAP's anti-corruption and pro-development narrative to erode support for Congress and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, amid the party's national strategy of attracting defectors to build local credibility ahead of the March 2017 state polls.[19] His defection exemplified AAP's 2016 recruitment drive in Punjab, which aimed to consolidate opposition votes by highlighting governance failures like drug abuse and unemployment, though specific quantifiable outcomes of his pre-candidacy efforts remain undocumented in contemporaneous reports.[17]Electoral history
2017 Punjab Assembly election
Aman Arora contested the 2017 Punjab Legislative Assembly election from the Sunam constituency (AC No. 101), a general category seat in Sangrur district, as the candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The election occurred on February 4, 2017, with results declared on March 11, 2017, amid a multi-cornered contest involving major parties including the Indian National Congress (INC), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance. AAP, positioning itself as an anti-corruption alternative, fielded Arora as a debutant candidate leveraging his local business background and community ties to challenge the incumbent SAD-BJP government.[20][21] Arora secured victory with 72,815 votes, representing 46.9% of the valid votes polled, defeating the SAD candidate Gobind Longowal who received 42,508 votes. The margin of victory was 30,307 votes. The INC candidate, Daman Thind Bajwa, finished third with 30,518 votes. Total electors numbered 185,299, with a turnout of 83.87% (153,688 votes polled). This win marked Arora's entry into the Punjab Legislative Assembly as a first-time MLA, contributing to AAP's tally of 20 seats in the 117-member house, though Congress formed the government with 77 seats.[22][21][22]| Candidate | Party | Votes | Vote Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aman Arora (Winner) | AAP | 72,815 | 46.9 |
| Gobind Longowal | SAD | 42,508 | 27.4 |
| Daman Thind Bajwa | INC | 30,518 | 19.7 |
2022 Punjab Assembly election
Aman Arora, the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Sunam, contested the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election held on February 20, 2022, for re-election. The polls were conducted across 117 constituencies amid AAP's statewide campaign emphasizing anti-corruption, free electricity, and improved governance, contrasting with the ruling Congress's decade-long tenure marred by allegations of favoritism and inefficiency.[24] Arora achieved a resounding victory, securing 94,274 electronic votes and 520 postal votes for a total of 94,794 votes, representing 61.28% of the valid votes polled in Sunam.[25] This resulted in a margin of 75,277 votes over his nearest rival, Jaswinder Singh Dhiman of the Indian National Congress (INC), who garnered 19,517 votes (12.62%).[25][24] The margin marked the largest victory differential in the entire Punjab election, underscoring strong local support for Arora and AAP's momentum.[24][26] Sunam, a general category constituency in Sangrur district with 196,949 registered electors, recorded a voter turnout of 78.54%, yielding 154,684 total votes.[27] Other notable contenders included Baldev Singh Maan of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with 12,714 votes (8.22%) and multiple splinter SAD factions, reflecting fragmented opposition votes.[25]| Candidate | Party | Total Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aman Arora | AAP | 94,794 | 61.28% |
| Jaswinder Singh Dhiman | INC | 19,517 | 12.62% |
| Baldev Singh Maan | SAD | 12,714 | 8.22% |
| Sanmukh Singh Mokha | SAD (Sanyukt) | 11,351 | 7.34% |
Legislative and ministerial roles
Tenure as MLA for Sunam
Aman Arora was first elected as MLA for Sunam on March 10, 2017, defeating Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Parminder Singh Dhindsa by 30,307 votes. He secured re-election on March 10, 2022, with the state's highest victory margin of 52,818 votes over Congress's Jaswinder Dhiman.[1][28][24] During his initial term in opposition (2017–2022), Arora engaged in legislative oversight, proposing a private member's bill in May 2017 for an annual Rs 3 crore local area development fund per MLA to fund constituency-specific projects like infrastructure and welfare schemes.[29] He criticized prior governments for limited assembly sessions, highlighting only 100 sitting days from 2012 to 2018 despite constitutional requirements for 60 days annually, and urged extended productivity.[30] Arora also intervened on local issues, requesting waiver of Rs 70 crore in pending electricity dues for over 4,000 government schools to avert power disconnections affecting education.[31][32] In his second term under the AAP government, Arora prioritized infrastructure and youth welfare in Sunam, inaugurating projects to enhance connectivity, education, and sports facilities:- On April 7, 2025, development works valued at Rs 2.51 crore across six government schools, including upgrades to buildings and amenities.[33]
- On July 27, 2025, a badminton court aimed at youth engagement and drug prevention.[34]
- On September 14, 2025, a Rs 5.06 crore multi-utility bus stand in Cheema with integrated sports facilities.[35]
- On October 2, 2025, announcement of Rs 22.60 crore in projects for holistic area development, including roads and utilities.[36]
- On October 7, 2025, a Rs 40.12 crore road upgradation initiative.[37]
- On November 27, 2024, multiple projects in Sunam and Cheema, such as health centers and roads.[38]