AAP releases second Punjab 2027 candidate list; 2 MPs, 8 sitting MLAs dropped
Synopsis
With 46 seats still undeclared, AAP's second Punjab candidate list is as notable for who is out as who is in — eight sitting MLAs have reportedly been dropped, a Cabinet minister has been replaced by his own nephew in Lambi, and two sitting MPs are being pushed into assembly contests, all while three legislators have already defected to the BJP.
Key Takeaways
AAP released its second list of 31 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections on 12 November 2026 .
Total nominees announced now stand at 71 out of 117 constituencies.
Sitting MPs Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (Barnala) and Raj Kumar Chabbewal (Phagwara) are among the candidates.
Eight sitting MLAs have reportedly been replaced, including Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian in Lambi.
Three AAP legislators — Chetan Singh Jouramajra , Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra , and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh — have defected to the BJP .
AAP won 92 of 117 seats in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann .
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday, 12 November 2026, released its second list of 31 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, bringing the party's total declared nominees to 71 across the state's 117 constituencies. The list was issued by party national secretary Pankaj Kumar Gupta and features two sitting Members of Parliament, four women candidates, and the replacement of eight sitting MLAs.
Key Candidates in the Second List
Among the most prominent names is sitting MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, fielded from Barnala, and fellow MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal, who will contest from Phagwara. Other notable nominees include Raman Bahl from Gurdaspur, Karamjit Singh Rintu from Amritsar North, Nitin Kohli from Jalandhar Central, Pawan Kumar Tinu from Adampur, and Jasvir Singh Garhi from Chamkaur Sahib.
The list also features former Shiromani Akali Dal legislator Vaninder Kaur Loomba from Shutrana and Saravjit Kaur Manuke from Jagraon, signalling AAP's continued effort to broaden its coalition across party lines.
Regional Focus: Doaba and Malwa in Spotlight
The second list places significant emphasis on the Doaba region, with candidates announced for Kapurthala, Phagwara, Phillaur, Shahkot, Jalandhar (Central), Jalandhar (North), Jalandhar Cantonment, Adampur, Mukerian, and Nawanshahr.
In the Malwa region, AAP has named candidates for Chamkaur Sahib, Kharar, Dakha, Jagraon, Abohar, Balluana, Lambi, Bathinda Rural, Barnala, and Shutrana. The Majha region is covered through nominations in Gurdaspur, Qadian, Fatehgarh Churian, Raja Sansi, Majitha, and Amritsar North.
Eight Sitting MLAs Replaced, Including a Cabinet Minister
One of the more striking aspects of the second list is the reported replacement of eight sitting MLAs. Most notably, in Lambi — a historically significant seat in Punjab politics — Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has reportedly been replaced by his nephew, Randhir Singh Dhira Khuddian. Such intra-family succession within party ticket allocation is not uncommon in Punjab's political landscape, though it may invite scrutiny over dynastic tendencies.
Internal Turbulence Ahead of 2027 Polls
The candidate announcements come against a backdrop of internal churn within the party. Three AAP legislators — Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh — have left the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a setback that could affect the ruling party's morale and seat arithmetic heading into the elections.
Notably, AAP's first list of 40 candidates was announced on 31 October, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann from Dhuri. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, AAP had swept to power, winning 92 of 117 seats under Mann's leadership. With 46 constituencies yet to be declared, the party's remaining picks will be watched closely for how it navigates the dual challenge of retaining incumbents and broadening appeal.
Point of View
A pragmatic but politically risky calculus. Fielding two Lok Sabha MPs in assembly seats is an unusual move that could either reinforce ground strength or expose vulnerability if those MPs underperform in a different electoral format. Meanwhile, three defections to the BJP suggest the party's internal cohesion is under strain, and the opposition will exploit that narrative aggressively. With 46 seats yet to be declared, the remaining list will be a critical signal of whether AAP can hold its 2022 coalition together or is already in defensive mode.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many candidates has AAP announced for the 2027 Punjab elections so far?
AAP has announced a total of 71 candidates across Punjab's 117 assembly constituencies. The first list of 40 candidates was released on 31 October, followed by the second list of 31 candidates on 12 November 2026.
Which sitting MPs are contesting Punjab assembly seats for AAP?
Two sitting MPs have been fielded — Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Barnala and Raj Kumar Chabbewal from Phagwara. Both are prominent faces of the party in Punjab.
Which sitting MLAs have been replaced in AAP's second candidate list?
Eight sitting MLAs have reportedly been replaced. The most notable case is in Lambi, where Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has been replaced by his nephew, Randhir Singh Dhira Khuddian.
Which AAP legislators have defected to the BJP ahead of the Punjab 2027 elections?
Three AAP legislators — Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh — have left the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
How did AAP perform in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections?
AAP secured a landslide victory in the 2022 Punjab elections, winning 92 of the state's 117 seats and forming the government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The party is now defending that majority heading into the 2027 polls.
