CHANDIGARH, Oct 31: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday announced its first list of candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, renominating 40 sitting MLAs. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will seek re-election from Dhuri, while jailed Cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora has been fielded from Ludhiana West.
The announcement makes AAP the first major political party to declare its candidates for the 117-member Punjab Assembly, with elections scheduled for early next year.
Mann announced the list in Delhi after a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC). He said the early declaration reflected the party’s preparations, transparency and confidence in its government’s performance.
Arora is currently in jail in connection with an alleged Rs 100 crore GST fraud-linked money laundering case involving entities associated with him.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal congratulated the candidates in a post on X.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has been renominated from Kotkapura, while the Deputy Speaker will contest from Garhshankar.
Four sitting women MLAs have been retained in their respective constituencies: Baljinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo, Inderjit Kaur Mann from Nakodar, Santosh Kataria from Balachaur and Amandeep Kaur Arora from Moga.
The party has also nominated three former ministers. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, the Punjab AAP chief spokesperson, will contest from Ajnala, Inderbir Singh Nijjar from Amritsar South and Bram Shanker Jimpa from Hoshiarpur.
Other candidates include Punjab AAP working president Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi from Batala, Harmeet Singh Sandhu from Tarn Taran, Sarvan Singh Dhun from Khemkaran, Balkar Singh from Kartarpur and Karanbir Singh Ghuman from Dasyua.
Ishank Kumar Chabbewal, son of Hoshiarpur MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal, has been fielded from Chabbewal. Dinesh Chadha will contest from Rupnagar, Kulwant Singh from Mohali, Lakhbir Singh Rai from Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurinder Singh Garry Warring from Amloh.
The list also includes Jagtar Singh Diyalpura from Samrala, Daljit Singh Grewal from Ludhiana East, Kulwant Singh Sidhu from Atam Nagar, Ashok Prashar Pappi from Ludhiana Central and Madan Lal Bagga from Ludhiana North.
Manjit Singh Bilaspur has been renominated from Nihal Singh Wala, Manwinder Singh Giaspura from Payal, Amritpal Singh Sukhanand from Baghapurana, Devinderjit Singh Laddidhos from Dharamkot, Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy from Jalalabad and Narinderpal Singh Sawna from Fazilka.
The remaining candidates are Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar from Muktsar, Amolak Singh from Jaitu, Gurpreet Singh Banawali from Sardulgarh, Labh Singh Ugoke from Bhadaur, Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra from Amargarh and Ajitpal Singh Kohli from Patiala.
Explaining the timing of the announcement, Mann said the candidates would have three to four months to reach out to voters and highlight the government’s work.
He said the party had selected candidates based on public feedback and surveys, expressing confidence that the sitting legislators would retain their seats. Mann also asserted that AAP was well positioned to win the upcoming elections.
He urged party workers to strengthen their grassroots outreach and continue working towards the vision of a ‘Rangla Punjab’.