AAP names 40 candidates for Punjab elections: Bhagwant Mann, Sanjeev Arora make first list
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, naming Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann from Dhuri, the constituency he won by a massive margin in 2022.
The announcement marks an early start to the party's preparations for the crucial state election, expected in February or March next year.
The list, announced on Saturday, October 31, includes several prominent party leaders, sitting MLAs and ministers.
Notable names include Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who will contest from Kotkapura, and minister Sanjeev Arora, nominated from Ludhiana West.
Interestingly, Arora's candidature comes despite his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May in connection with an alleged money laundering case. He is currently lodged in Bhondsi jail in Gurugram.
The Aam Aadmi Party hereby announces the following candidates for the Punjab Legislative Assembly Elections, 2027. pic.twitter.com/dsbqLTNwLa
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 31, 2026
AAP has rejected the allegations against him, describing the action as political vendetta.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting at AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal's residence in Delhi on Friday.
Mann, Kejriwal, Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia and other senior leaders participated in discussions on candidate selection. The party's Political Affairs Committee subsequently cleared the names.
Full list of AAP candidates for 2027 Punjab Assembly elections
The 40 candidates announced by the party are:
- Batala: Amansher Singh (Shery Kalsi)
- Ajnala: Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal
- Amritsar South: Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar
- Tarn Taran: Harmeet Singh Sandhu
- Khem Karan: Sarvan Singh Dhun
- Nakodar: Inderjit Kaur Mann
- Kartarpur: Balkar Singh
- Dasuya: Karambir Singh Ghuman
- Urmar: Jasvir Singh Raja Gill
- Hoshiarpur: Bram Shanker Sharma Jimpa
- Chabbewal: Ishank Kumar Chabbewal
- Garhshankar: Jai Krishan Singh Rouri
- Balachaur: Santosh Kataria
- Rupnagar: Dinesh Chadha
- S.A.S. Nagar: Kulwant Singh
- Fatehgarh Sahib: Lakhbir Singh Rai
- Amloh: Gurinder Singh Garry Waring
- Samrala: Jagtar Singh Diyalpura
- Ludhiana East: Daljit Singh Grewal Bhola
- Atam Nagar: Kulwant Singh Sidhu
- Ludhiana Central: Ashok Prashar Pappi
- Ludhiana West: Sanjeev Arora
- Ludhiana North: Chaudhary Madan Lal Bagga
- Payal: Manwinder Singh Giaspura
- Nihal Singh Wala: Manjit Singh Bilaspur
- Bhaga Purana: Amritpal Singh Sukhanand
- Moga: Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora
- Dharamkot: Devinder Jeet Singh Laddi Dhos
- Jalalabad: Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy
- Fazilka: Narinderpal Singh Sawna
- Muktsar: Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar
- Kotkapura: Kultar Singh Sandhwan
- Jaitu: Amolak Singh
- Talwandi Sabo: Baljinder Kaur
- Sardulgarh: Gurpreet Singh Banawali
- Bhadaur: Labh Singh Ugoke
- Mehal Kalan: Kulwant Singh Pandori
- Amargarh: Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra
- Dhuri: Bhagwant Mann
- Patiala: Ajitpal Singh Kohli
BJP questions omission of Harjot Singh Bains
Soon after the candidate list was released, the BJP targeted the ruling party for omitting Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains from the list.
The opposition questioned why Bains was not included among the 40 nominees. The development comes amid sustained BJP criticism of the minister over alleged irregularities in Punjab recruitment exams.
In July, the BJP had intensified its demand for Bains' resignation over the allegations.
With the first 40 candidates now announced, AAP has begun laying the groundwork for the 2027 electoral contest.
The party will seek to retain power in Punjab, where it won a sweeping victory in 2022, securing 92 of the 117 Assembly seats.