Who is Ashok Mittal? former aap mp
Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and founder-chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU) Ashok Mittal joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday. This comes just days after Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on his premises and weeks after his rise in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The 62-year-old’s defection marks a sharp turn in his political journey, especially as it comes after his recent appointment as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha replacing Raghav Chadha.
From sweet shop to education business
Born in Jalandhar Cantonment into a business family with roots in Rajasthan, Mittal grew up around his family’s sweets brand, “Lovely Sweets”, which was founded by his father Baldev Raj Mittal.
A law graduate from Guru Nanak Dev University, he started his career by working with his brothers in the family business and gradually took it in new directions.
The first major diversification came in 1991 with the launch of “Lovely Autos”, marking the group’s entry into the automobile sector. Nearly a decade later, Mittal turned his focus towards education and founded Lovely Institute of Management in 2000.
That decision proved decisive. Lovely Professional University was eventually established in 2005, which has since become one of the largest private universities in North India. Spread across a vast campus, it hosts thousands of students and a large academic workforce. Mittal serves as chancellor, while his wife, Rashmi Mittal, is co-chancellor.
Political entry and rise in AAP
Mittal entered Parliament as a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab on an AAP ticket in 2022, marking his formal entry into politics.
He soon became a prominent face of the party in the Upper House, often defending its governance record in Punjab and speaking on issues such as law and order. He also targeted the Center over administrative control in Chandigarh.
Recently, he replaced Raghav Chadha as the deputy leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha, indicating his growing stature within the party.
ED raids Mittal’s premises
On April 15, the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at Mittal’s residence and several premises linked to Lovely Group in Jalandhar and Phagwara.
The action was linked to a suspected money-laundering investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), allegedly involving Mittal and his son. Assets associated with the family businesses, including the university and other group entities, were covered.
His move to join the BJP within days of the ED action has drawn attention both for its timing and its contrast with his recent rise within the AAP.
Mittal’s defection is part of a wider change in the Rajya Sabha, where seven AAP MPs have switched to the BJP. The exodus under Raghav Chadha’s leadership is being seen as a significant blow to the party in the Upper House, where numbers are crucial for legislative decisions.
