AAP releases second list of 31 candidates for Punjab, drops old faces with a few sitting MLAs retained

Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has finalised its second list of 31 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, taking the total number of seats on which it has settled candidates to 71.

The decision followed a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) on Thursday, where the upcoming Assembly tickets were discussed in detail. The party also reviewed feedback from the public while choosing candidates.

With the latest 31 names, AAP has now decided on 71 seats. It had already finalised candidates for 40 seats in the first round.

The party has indicated that the list is a mix of experienced leaders and new faces. Longtime volunteers and workers associated with the party have found a place in it, with those selected set to be informed that they have been given tickets.

Notably, the first list of 40, issued on October 31, was built entirely from sitting MLAs, including CM Bhagwant Mann. This round goes the other way, with more new faces and several 2022 winners and candidates replaced. 

Three MLAs left AAP soon after the first list, leaving Samana, Sanaur and Amritsar North vacant. 

Before the list, party sources had said some sitting MLAs would be dropped and new faces included and that the decision was based on survey findings. 

Sitting MLAs replaced  

Chamkaur Sahib: Dr Charanjit Singh was the sitting MLA. Jasvir Singh Garhi now gets the ticket. The party had already made Garhi in-charge there, which raised questions about the MLA’s future. Garhi resigned as chairman of the Punjab SC Commission to take up the seat and said he was ready to challenge Channi. The seat is the Congress yatra’s launch venue. 

Bathinda Rural: Amit Rattan Kotfatta is the sitting MLA and Gopal Singh was already made in-charge. Gopal Singh is now the candidate. 

Kharar: Anmol Gagan Maan won in 2022, but she resigned as MLA in July 2025 and said she was quitting politics. Parminder Singh Goldy now gets the ticket after being made in-charge earlier

Patti: Laljit Singh Bhullar won in 2022. Jaskanwar Singh Gill (Jassa Patti) replaces him. 

Jalandhar Central: Raman Arora was the 2022 candidate. Nitin Kohli replaces him. 

Amritsar North: This was the seat of former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh and it is now vacant. Karamjit Singh Rintu takes the ticket. 

2022 candidates who lost and are now replaced 

In Pathankot, Vibhuti Sharma was the 2022 AAP candidate and the party now fields Rohit Syal. In Qadian, Jagroop Singh Sekhwan contested in 2022 and gives way to Guriqbal Singh Mahal. In Fatehgarh Churian, Balbir Singh Pannu was the 2022 nominee and Harjobanjit Singh (Joban) Randhawa replaces him. 

In Raja Sansi, Baldev Singh Meadian was the 2022 candidate and Sonia Mann now gets the ticket. In Kapurthala, Manju Rana contested in 2022 and Davinder Pal Singh Ranga takes her place. In Nawanshahr, Lalit Mohan (Ballu) Pathak was the 2022 candidate and Robby Kang replaces him.

Repeat names from 2022 

Gurdaspur: Raman Bahl was the 2022 candidate and is renominated. 

Dina Nagar (SC): Shamsher Singh was the 2022 candidate and is renominated. 

Barnala: Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer won here in 2022 and later became Sangrur MP. He is now back as an Assembly candidate.

Phagwara: Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal is reportedly the sitting Hoshiarpur MP now fielded for the Assembly.

Adampur: Pawan Kumar Tinu was AAP’s 2024 Jalandhar Lok Sabha candidate against Channi.

Lambi: Gurmeet Singh Khuddian beat Parkash Singh Badal here in 2022. The list names Randhir Singh Dhira Khuddian, which would mean the sitting MLA is dropped.

What the list shows

AAP is clearly using local in-charges as candidates as in Chamkaur Sahib, Kharar and Bathinda Rural.

Candidates who lost in 2022 are mostly replaced and only a few are repeated.

Seats around Jalandhar and Amritsar have many new names, suggesting the party is rebuilding in the Doaba and Majha regions.