Punjab’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party has fired the starting gun for the 2027 Assembly election. On Saturday, the party released its first list of 40 candidates, becoming the first major party in the state to name its contenders months before polling. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann leads the list and will seek re-election from his home turf of Dhuri in Sangrur district.
The announcement, cleared by the party’s Political Affairs Committee, sets the tone for a long campaign. Punjab votes in early 2027, likely around February or March. The 117-member Assembly’s term ends on March 16, 2027, and the Election Commission is yet to announce the schedule.
Mann framed the early announcement as a sign of confidence. In a post on X, he said the list reflected strong preparation, transparency and faith in the work of his government. He congratulated the candidates and urged them to stay connected with voters on the ground and carry forward what he called the journey of a prosperous Punjab.
A safe first list: all 40 are sitting MLAs
The most striking feature of the first list is its caution. Every one of the 40 names is a sitting MLA. There are no debutants, no surprise new faces and, notably, no sitting cabinet ministers in this round. The party has chosen to lock in its safest seats first and leave the harder calls for later lists.
That approach makes political sense. By confirming incumbents who, in the party’s assessment, enjoy positive feedback from public surveys, AAP gives its candidates months to campaign on the government’s record. Mann said the candidates were picked on survey and voter feedback, and that new faces would get opportunities in later lists.
Alongside Mann, Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan will contest again from Kotkapura. Former ministers also feature prominently, including Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Ajnala, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar from Amritsar South and Bram Shanker Sharma Jimpa from Hoshiarpur. Party working president Amansher Singh, better known as Shery Kalsi, will contest from Batala.
The name that stands out: Sanjeev Arora
The most talked-about name on the list is Sanjeev Arora, who will contest from Ludhiana West. Arora, a former minister, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in May this year in an alleged money laundering and fake GST billing case linked to his former real estate firm, and he remains in jail in Gurugram. AAP has dismissed the charges as political vendetta by the BJP-led Centre.
Arora’s inclusion sends a clear message: the party is standing by him despite the case. It also keeps Ludhiana West, a seat he won in a by-election, with a familiar face. Whether the case becomes a campaign issue there will be watched closely by rivals.
The list includes four women candidates: Inderjit Kaur Mann from Nakodar, Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora from Moga, Santosh Kataria from Balachaur and Baljinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo. Candidates span the Malwa, Majha and Doaba regions, giving the first list a statewide spread rather than a narrow regional focus.
Who is missing, and why it matters
Just as interesting as who made the list is who did not. No sitting cabinet minister figures in the first 40, and several senior leaders are still waiting. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, state party president Aman Arora, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Social Security Minister Baljit Kaur are among the heavyweights whose names are expected in later lists.
That delay is deliberate. Ministers often face the sharpest anti-incumbency questions, and the party appears to be keeping its options open on those seats while it assesses ground feedback. Mann had earlier warned that no legislator was guaranteed a ticket.
What happens next
The early announcement puts pressure on the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP, none of which has yet declared candidates for Punjab. Kejriwal wished the candidates well, while Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia urged them to visit every home and campaign on the government’s work in education, health and basic services.
Mann pitched the campaign on governance, saying candidates would seek a mandate on work in schools, health facilities, irrigation and rural development, and benefits for women and domestic power consumers.
The road to February is still long. More lists will follow, and rivals will respond with their own announcements. But with 40 names out on October 31, AAP has made the first move in Punjab’s 2027 race, with its chief minister front and centre.
FAQs
How many candidates has AAP announced for Punjab 2027?
AAP has announced 40 candidates in its first list. All 40 are sitting MLAs, and more lists are expected to follow.
From where will Bhagwant Mann contest?
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will contest again from Dhuri in Sangrur district, the seat he won in 2022.
When are the Punjab Assembly elections due?
The elections are due in early 2027, with polling expected around February or March. The current Assembly’s term ends on March 16, 2027, and the Election Commission has not yet announced the schedule.
Why is Sanjeev Arora’s name significant?
Arora, fielded from Ludhiana West, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in May 2026 in an alleged money laundering case and remains in jail. AAP has called the charges political vendetta.
Are any cabinet ministers in the first list?
No. No sitting cabinet minister figures in the first list, with senior leaders and ministers expected in subsequent lists.
