Punjab Elections 2027: AAP Names 40 Candidates, Bhagwant Mann to Contest Again From Dhuri

Jailed minister Sanjeev Arora gets Ludhiana West ticket, while Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan will contest from Kotkapura; polling schedule yet to be announced

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, naming Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to contest again from the Dhuri constituency.

The list also includes jailed minister Sanjeev Arora, who has been fielded from Ludhiana West, and Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who will contest from Kotkapura.

The announcement comes well ahead of the Assembly elections, which are due in early 2027. The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the polling schedule.

Bhagwant Mann, Kultar Singh Sandhwan Among 40 Candidates

AAP finalised the candidate list at a high-level meeting held at party chief Arvind Kejriwal's residence in Delhi on Friday.

The meeting was attended by Kejriwal, Chief Minister Mann, Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia and other senior party leaders.

Mann's candidature from Dhuri signals the party's decision to retain him in the constituency he represented in the 2022 Assembly elections. Sandhwan has been named as the candidate from Kotkapura.

Jailed Minister Sanjeev Arora Gets Ludhiana West Ticket

One of the notable names on the list is minister Sanjeev Arora, who has been nominated from Ludhiana West despite being in judicial custody.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Arora in May 2026 in connection with an alleged money laundering case. He is currently lodged in Bhondsi jail in Gurugram.

The case involves alleged money laundering of ₹100 crore to ₹157.12 crore and a suspected fake GST billing racket linked to Hampton Sky Realty Limited, where Arora was formerly the chairman and managing director.

The allegations include the use of bogus exports and shell companies. AAP has rejected the charges, describing the ED action as political vendetta by the BJP-led Central Government.

Mann Says Early Announcement Reflects Party's Confidence

Reacting to the announcement, Mann said releasing the candidate list early reflected the party's confidence in its work and preparations for the elections.

"Announcement is a symbol of our strong preparation, transparency, and unwavering confidence in the work we have done," he wrote on X.

Kejriwal also congratulated the party's candidates following the release of the list.

Punjab Assembly Elections Due in Early 2027

Elections to the 117-member Punjab Assembly are expected around February-March 2027, although the Election Commission has not yet notified the schedule.

The current Assembly's five-year term ends on March 16, 2027.

AAP currently has 95 MLAs in the 117-member House, giving it a substantial majority as it prepares to seek another term in Punjab.