AAP BETS ON INCUMBENT MLAs FOR 2027 PUNJAB POLLS, RENOMINATES BHAGWANT MANN FROM DHURI

November 1, 2026

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, renominating sitting legislators from their existing constituencies as the party begins its preparations for the electoral contest expected early next year.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will again contest from Dhuri in Sangrur district, while Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has been nominated from Kotkapura. The list also includes Cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora, who will contest from Ludhiana West despite being in custody in connection with an alleged money-laundering case. The allegations against him have not been established as guilt by a court.

The announcement includes several prominent party figures and former ministers, including Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Ajnala, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar from Amritsar South, Bram Shanker Sharma Jimpa from Hoshiarpur and Balkar Singh from Kartarpur. Four women legislators have also been renominated: Inderjit Kaur Mann from Nakodar, Santosh Kataria from Balachaur, Baljinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo and Amandeep Kaur Arora from Moga.

According to the party, the candidates were selected following deliberations by its Political Affairs Committee, which met in Delhi. Mann said the early announcement would give nominees sufficient time to reach voters and present the government’s work before the elections.

Notably absent from the first list are Punjab AAP president Aman Arora and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, along with other Cabinet members. Their absence leaves the possibility of further announcements open as the party prepares its remaining candidates.

The decision to field 40 sitting MLAs reflects AAP’s reliance on its existing legislators as it seeks to defend its position in Punjab. The party secured a sweeping victory in the 2022 Assembly election, winning 92 of the state’s 117 seats, and will now face the challenge of retaining voter support in 2027