The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday released its second list of 31 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, taking the total number of nominees declared by the ruling party to 71 out of the state’s 117 constituencies. The announcement came after a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee in Delhi, and it carries a clear message: AAP is in no mood to wait for the election season to begin.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the list after the PAC meeting at the New Delhi residence of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. The party had released its first list of 40 candidates on October 31, including Mann himself from Dhuri and Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan from Kotkapura. With Thursday’s list, AAP has now named candidates for 71 seats, leaving 46 constituencies still to be announced. The elections are expected in February-March next year.
Two sitting MPs get tickets, a minister loses his
The headline names in the second list are Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, who will contest from Barnala, and Phagwara MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal. Two sitting MLAs, Saravjit Kaur Manuke from Jagraon and Amandeep Singh Goldy Musafir from Balluana, have been renominated.
But the list is just as notable for who did not make it. Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has been dropped from Lambi, and his nephew Randhir Singh Dhira Khuddian has been given the ticket instead. Former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has also lost his ticket from Patti, where the party has fielded Jaskanwar Singh Gill, better known as Jassa Patti. In all, seven sitting MLAs have been dropped, including the minister and two former ministers, according to reports.
Other prominent names in the list include Jasvir Singh Garhi from Chamkaur Sahib, Dr KNS Kang from Dakha, Dr Suhani Doda from Abohar and Nitin Kohli from Jalandhar Central. The list covers all three regions of the state: 10 seats in Majha, 11 in Doaba and 10 in Malwa.
Surveys, not seniority, decided the names
Addressing reporters after the announcement, Mann said the candidates were picked on the basis of public surveys and feedback from voters. “Today, 31 constituencies have been finalised, and 31 candidates have been selected. Earlier, we had already finalised 40 candidates. So, the total number has now reached 71 candidates,” he said.
The list was issued under the signature of AAP national secretary Pankaj Kumar Gupta. The emphasis on surveys fits a pattern the party has used before: tickets are treated as rewards for ground-level feedback rather than seniority alone, and Thursday’s dropping of a sitting minister underlines that the leadership is willing to act on it.
It is also worth noting that no Cabinet minister figures in the second list. The party appears to be keeping its ministers focused on government work for now, while testing new faces and sitting MPs in the constituencies where it wants a stronger push.
What this means for the 2027 race
Declaring 71 candidates months before polling is unusual, and it is deliberate. By naming its nominees early, AAP gives them time to build a presence in their constituencies while rival parties are still working out their own lists. The Congress and the BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal camps have yet to announce candidates at anything like this scale.
The early start also carries a risk. Candidates announced months ahead of polling can become targets, and internal discontent from dropped leaders can fester. The dropping of a Cabinet minister and several sitting MLAs will be watched closely in the coming days for signs of rebellion.
For now, though, the message from the ruling party is one of confidence. AAP swept Punjab in 2022, winning 92 of 117 seats, and it is fighting the 2027 election as the incumbent defending a record rather than the challenger promising change. The next 46 names, when they come, will show how far the party is willing to go in refreshing its line-up.
Frequently asked questions
How many candidates has AAP announced for the Punjab polls so far?
AAP has announced 71 candidates across two lists: 40 in the first list on October 31 and 31 in the second list on November 12. Candidates for the remaining 46 of Punjab’s 117 Assembly seats are yet to be announced.
Who are the biggest names in AAP’s second list?
Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Barnala and Phagwara MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal are the most prominent names. The list also includes Jasvir Singh Garhi from Chamkaur Sahib, Dr Suhani Doda from Abohar and Nitin Kohli from Jalandhar Central.
Which leaders were dropped from the second list?
Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian was dropped from Lambi, and former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar lost his ticket from Patti. In total, seven sitting MLAs were dropped from the list.
When are the Punjab Assembly elections?
The elections for the 117-member Punjab Assembly are expected to be held in February-March 2027. The exact schedule will be announced by the Election Commission.
How were the candidates selected?
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the candidates were chosen on the basis of public surveys and feedback from voters, after a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee in Delhi.
The Punjab contest is still months away, but with 71 names already out, AAP has made the first big move of the 2027 race. The other parties now have to catch up.
