Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections, placing its faith entirely in sitting legislators. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann will once again contest from Dhuri, while jailed MLA Sanjeev Arora has been renominated from Ludhiana West.
All 40 candidates named in this initial phase are sitting MLAs, covering nearly 34% of the state’s 117 assembly seats. The announcement, made nearly four months ahead of the polls, signals the ruling party’s decision to prioritise continuity and give its candidates an early start in their respective constituencies.
With 77 constituencies remaining, focus turns to the AAP’s upcoming list to see whether the party maintains its strategy of backing incumbents or introduces new faces. The party is expected to release its second list next week. In Hoshiarpur district, the party fielded Brahm Shankar Jimpa from Hoshiarpur, Ishank Kumar Chabbewal from Chabbewal, Jai Krishan Singh Rouri from Garhshankar, and Karambeer Singh Ghuman from Dasuya. A senior AAP leader noted that rolling out candidates early aims to pressure rival parties, grant nominees ample time to build grassroots momentum, and allow the leadership to address any localised dissatisfaction before campaigns peak.
