The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday, 31 October 2026 released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, firing the opening shot in what is set to be a high-stakes state poll. The names were finalised at a Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting in New Delhi, chaired by AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Key Candidates and Constituencies

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will again contest from Dhuri, the seat from which he won with a commanding margin in 2022. Notably, the list also includes Sanjeev Arora, a jailed minister currently facing money laundering charges, who has been fielded from Ludhiana West. The inclusion of Arora is certain to draw scrutiny from opposition parties.

AAP says the candidates were chosen on the basis of a public survey, with tickets awarded to those who received a positive response from voters. The party claims this grassroots vetting process sets it apart from rivals.

Why the Early Announcement

The Punjab Assembly polls are not due until early 2027, making this an unusually early declaration — by the party's own admission, three to four months ahead of the election schedule. CM Mann framed the early release as a sign of organisational confidence and transparency, contrasting it pointedly with the Congress's practice of withholding ticket decisions until the final days to contain internal rebellion.

'We are releasing the list three to four months before the elections so that candidates have sufficient time to reach out to people and take the work done by the government to them,' Mann said. 'The Congress remains worried until the last day about possible rebellion or someone contesting as an independent candidate. That is why the Congress does not announce its tickets until the last day. But the Aam Aadmi Party follows a different principle.'

What Kejriwal and Mann Said

Kejriwal congratulated all 40 candidates and set an ambitious benchmark, stating: 'The party has given tickets to these candidates following a survey conducted among the people. I congratulate all 40 candidates and call upon everyone to break even the record set in 2022 in the 2027 elections.'

In 2022, AAP swept Punjab with 92 of 117 Assembly seats — the party's most dominant state performance to date. Any bid to 'break that record' would require near-total dominance.

Mann echoed the confidence: 'The Aam Aadmi Party has no competition from anyone in these elections. We are absolutely certain of our victory.' He also highlighted development work across Punjab, claiming that grants, road construction, pond renovation, job creation, Aam Aadmi Clinics, and school upgrades had reached every village in the state.

Context and What It Means for 2027

This is the first candidate list for a state where AAP currently holds power with a historic majority. The move signals that the party is not taking incumbency for granted — a lesson drawn from its 2025 Delhi Assembly loss, where it was voted out after a decade in power. Early candidate declaration also locks in grassroots momentum and prevents fence-sitters from exploring rival options.

The remaining 77 seats are yet to be announced. Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), have not yet released their candidate lists. As the campaign season heats up, the AAP's early positioning is likely to pressure rivals to accelerate their own preparations.