The Aam Aadmi Party has moved early in the race for the Punjab Assembly election 2027. On Thursday, 12 November 2026, AAP released its second list of 31 candidates, taking the number of declared candidates to 71 of Punjab’s 117 seats. The first list had named 40 candidates.
The list made headlines for two reasons. AAP dropped Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian from Lambi, the seat where he famously defeated Parkash Singh Badal in 2022, along with former minister Anmol Gagan Maan from Kharar. And it fielded two sitting Lok Sabha MPs, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, for Assembly seats. In this Election Guru report we bring you the full constituency-wise list, the key changes, the reasons behind them and what they mean for AAP, Congress, SAD and BJP.
AAP Second List Punjab 2027 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Party | Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) |
| Announced on | Thursday, 12 November 2026 |
| Candidates in second list | 31 |
| Candidates in first list | 40 |
| Total declared so far | 71 of 117 |
| Sitting MPs fielded | Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (Barnala), Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal (Phagwara) |
| Big names dropped | Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian (Lambi), ex-minister Anmol Gagan Maan (Kharar) |
| Women candidates | Four, as per reports |
| Sitting MLAs replaced | About eight, as per reports |
Full List: AAP Second List of 31 Candidates
| No. | Constituency | Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sujanpur | Swaran S Salaria |
| 2 | Pathankot | Rohit Syal |
| 3 | Gurdaspur | Raman Bahl |
| 4 | Dina Nagar | Shamsher Singh |
| 5 | Qadian | Guriqbal Singh Mahal |
| 6 | Fatehgarh Churian | Harjobanjit Singh Randhawa (Joban Randhawa) |
| 7 | Raja Sansi | Sonia Mann |
| 8 | Majitha | Talbir Singh Gill |
| 9 | Amritsar North | Karamjit Singh Rintu |
| 10 | Patti | Jaskanwar Singh Gill (Jassa Patti) |
| 11 | Bholath | Harsimran Singh |
| 12 | Kapurthala | Davinder Pal Singh Ranga |
| 13 | Phagwara | Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal |
| 14 | Phillaur | Harjot Kaur Lohtia |
| 15 | Shahkot | Balvir Singh Pala Jalalpur |
| 16 | Jalandhar Central | Nitin Kohli |
| 17 | Jalandhar North | Vaneet Dhir |
| 18 | Jalandhar Cantt | Deepak Bali |
| 19 | Adampur | Pawan Kumar Tinu |
| 20 | Mukerian | Sarabjot Singh Saabi |
| 21 | Nawan Shahr | Robby Kang |
| 22 | Chamkaur Sahib | Jasvir Singh Garhi |
| 23 | Kharar | Parminder Singh Goldy |
| 24 | Dakha | Dr KNS Kang |
| 25 | Jagraon | Saravjit Kaur Manuke |
| 26 | Abohar | Dr Suhani Doda |
| 27 | Balluana | Amandeep Singh ‘Goldy’ Musafir |
| 28 | Lambi | Randhir Singh Dhira Khuddian |
| 29 | Bathinda Rural | Gopal Singh |
| 30 | Barnala | Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer |
| 31 | Shutrana | Vaninder Kaur Loomba |
Why Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian Was Dropped
The biggest surprise was Lambi. In 2022, AAP’s Gurmeet Singh Khudian defeated five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal there, one of the most symbolic results of AAP’s sweep. Khudian later became Agriculture Minister. In the second list, AAP replaced him with his relative Randhir Singh Dhira Khuddian. The party has not publicly explained the change, but keeping the seat within the family suggests a generational shift rather than a political break.
In Kharar, former minister and singer Anmol Gagan Maan lost her ticket to Parminder Singh Goldy. In Chamkaur Sahib, Dr Charanjit Singh, who defeated then Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in 2022, was replaced by Jasvir Singh Garhi, who joined AAP after leaving the BSP.

Two Sitting MPs in the Assembly Race
| MP | Lok Sabha Seat | Assembly Seat Now | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer | Sangrur | Barnala | Former Barnala MLA (2017, 2022) and ex-minister |
| Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal | Hoshiarpur | Phagwara | Former Congress MLA from Chabbewal, joined AAP in 2024 |
Fielding sitting MPs shows AAP wants its strongest faces on the ground in Doaba and Malwa. If they win, both will have to resign one seat, which could trigger Lok Sabha by-elections.
Turncoats and New Faces
| Candidate | Seat | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Talbir Singh Gill | Majitha | Contested on another party’s ticket in 2022 |
| Pawan Kumar Tinu | Adampur | Contested on another party’s ticket in 2022 |
| Jasvir Singh Garhi | Chamkaur Sahib | Former BSP leader |
| Sonia Mann | Raja Sansi | Punjabi actress |
| Dr Suhani Doda | Abohar | New face |
What Bhagwant Mann Said
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the early announcement means candidates “will now get more time to reach out to people” and take the government’s work to voters. He said recommendations and requests did not decide tickets and that the party chose volunteers who had worked hard. The list was finalised at a meeting of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC).
Punjab Election 2022 Result: The Baseline
| Party | Seats (of 117) | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|
| AAP | 92 | 42.01% |
| Congress | 18 | ~23% |
| Shiromani Akali Dal | 3 | ~18% |
| BJP | 2 | ~6.6% |
| BSP | 1 | ~1.8% |
| Independent | 1 | – |
AAP’s 92 seats in 2022 was the biggest mandate in Punjab in decades. Bhagwant Mann became Chief Minister on 16 March 2022. The current Assembly’s term ends in March 2027, so polls are expected in early 2027.
Also Read: Punjab Election 2027: BJP-Akali Dal Alliance, AAP and Congress
Region-Wise Spread of the Second List
| Region | Seats in Second List |
|---|---|
| Majha (Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran) | Sujanpur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dina Nagar, Qadian, Fatehgarh Churian, Raja Sansi, Majitha, Amritsar North, Patti |
| Doaba (Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr) | Bholath, Kapurthala, Phagwara, Phillaur, Shahkot, Jalandhar Central, North, Cantt, Adampur, Mukerian, Nawan Shahr |
| Malwa | Chamkaur Sahib, Kharar, Dakha, Jagraon, Abohar, Balluana, Lambi, Bathinda Rural, Barnala, Shutrana |
Where Other Parties Stand
| Party | Status (Nov 2026) |
|---|---|
| AAP | 71 candidates declared |
| Congress | Main opposition; no list yet |
| Shiromani Akali Dal | Talks of a return to NDA with BJP |
| BJP | Amit Shah called for an NDA government; party says it will contest all 117 seats |
An early list gives AAP a head start in campaigning, but it also carries the risk of rebellion from leaders who were denied tickets. How the dropped MLAs and ministers respond, and whether any of them switch parties, will be closely watched.
Why AAP Is Announcing Candidates So Early
Announcing candidates months before the Election Commission declares the schedule is an AAP trademark. The party did the same in Punjab before 2022 and in Delhi before 2020 and 2025. The logic is simple: early candidates get more time to build a personal connection with voters, hold door-to-door campaigns and settle local disputes. It also puts pressure on rivals who are still negotiating alliances. The risk is that leaders denied tickets have more time to rebel or switch parties, and the party has to manage dissent for a longer period.
| Advantage of Early List | Risk of Early List |
|---|---|
| More time for door-to-door campaign | Rebellion by denied ticket-seekers |
| Pressure on rival parties | Rivals can field targeted candidates against known names |
| Signals confidence to workers | Anti-incumbency against sitting MLAs is exposed early |
| Time to resolve local disputes | Longer period of scrutiny for each candidate |
Bhagwant Mann Government: Key Schemes AAP Will Campaign On
| Scheme / Policy | What It Offers |
|---|---|
| Free electricity | 300 units of free power per month for households |
| Aam Aadmi Clinics | Free primary healthcare clinics across Punjab |
| Government jobs | Recruitment drives the party highlights as merit-based |
| Schools of Eminence | Upgraded government schools |
| Anti-drug campaign | Crackdown on drug trade, a major issue in Punjab |
The opposition, on the other hand, is expected to campaign on law and order, the state’s debt, drugs and promises they say are unfulfilled.
Punjab’s Political History: No Party Wins Forever
| Year | Winner | Chief Minister |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Congress | Amarinder Singh |
| 2007 | SAD-BJP | Parkash Singh Badal |
| 2012 | SAD-BJP (re-elected) | Parkash Singh Badal |
| 2017 | Congress | Amarinder Singh |
| 2022 | AAP | Bhagwant Mann |
| 2027 | Due | – |
The SAD-BJP alliance is the only one to win back-to-back terms in recent decades (2007 and 2012). AAP is now trying to become the second, while the Congress and a possible SAD-BJP reunion hope to end its run.
Key Seats to Watch from the Second List
| Seat | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Lambi | Badal family’s traditional seat; AAP changes candidate |
| Majitha | Majithia family stronghold; AAP fields Talbir Singh Gill |
| Chamkaur Sahib | Former CM Channi’s seat in 2017; AAP fields ex-BSP leader |
| Barnala | Sitting MP Meet Hayer returns to his old seat |
| Phagwara | Sitting MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal in the fray |
| Jalandhar seats | Three Jalandhar city seats in one list; urban test for AAP |
How AAP Selects Candidates
AAP says its tickets are decided by its Political Affairs Committee (PAC), the party’s top decision-making body, after inputs from district units, surveys and the performance of sitting MLAs. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said that volunteers who worked hard for the party were preferred and that recommendations did not influence the choices. Dropping a sitting minister like Gurmeet Singh Khudian and a former minister like Anmol Gagan Maan suggests that the party is willing to act on internal feedback and surveys, even against prominent faces. At the same time, giving tickets to leaders who joined from other parties, such as Jasvir Singh Garhi, Talbir Singh Gill and Pawan Kumar Tinu, shows AAP is also focusing on winnability.
| Factor | How It Shows in the Second List |
|---|---|
| Performance of sitting MLAs | About eight sitting MLAs reportedly replaced |
| Winnability | Leaders from other parties given tickets |
| Star power | Two sitting MPs and an actress fielded |
| Family continuity | Khudian’s relative gets Lambi |
| Women representation | Four women candidates, as per reports |
The remaining 46 seats are likely to include some of the most competitive and sensitive constituencies, and the third list will be watched closely for more changes among sitting MLAs.
Election Guru Analysis
AAP’s second list blends continuity with change. Fielding two MPs and dropping a sitting minister signals that the party is ready to take tough calls to fight anti-incumbency after five years in power. With 46 seats still to be declared and the opposition yet to finalise its alliances, the Punjab election 2027 contest is only beginning. Election Guru will track every list as it comes out.
AAP Punjab Candidate List 2027 FAQ
When did AAP release its second list for Punjab election 2027?
AAP released its second list of 31 candidates on Thursday, 12 November 2026.
How many candidates has AAP announced for Punjab so far?
AAP has announced 71 candidates so far: 40 in the first list and 31 in the second, out of 117 seats.
Who is AAP’s candidate from Lambi in 2027?
Randhir Singh Dhira Khuddian is AAP’s candidate from Lambi, replacing Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
Which MPs are in AAP’s second list?
Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (Barnala) and Hoshiarpur MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal (Phagwara).
Who replaced Anmol Gagan Maan in Kharar?
Parminder Singh Goldy is AAP’s candidate from Kharar.
How many seats did AAP win in Punjab in 2022?
AAP won 92 of 117 seats with 42.01% of the vote in 2022.
When is the Punjab Assembly election 2027?
The current Assembly’s term ends in March 2027, so the election is expected in early 2027. Dates have not been announced yet.