AAP Names 40 Candidates for Punjab 2027: Mann From Dhuri, No Sitting Ministersਆਪ ਨੇ 40 ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ ਐਲਾਨੇ: ਮਾਨ ਧੂਰੀ ਤੋਂ, ਕੋਈ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, fielding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann from Dhuri again. The list was cleared by the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in Delhi, according to The Hindu, The New Indian Express and The Times of India.

Who is in AAP's first list of 40?

Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan is named from Kotkapura, and Sanjeev Arora, who is in jail in an alleged money-laundering case, from Ludhiana West. Others include Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal (Ajnala), Inderbir Singh Nijjar (Amritsar South), Brham Shankar Sharma "Jimpa" (Hoshiarpur), Kulwant Singh (SAS Nagar), Aman Sher Singh "Shery Kalsi" (Batala), Madan Lal Bagga (Ludhiana North), Ajitpal Singh Kohli (Patiala) and Harmeet Singh Sandhu (Tarn Taran). The New Indian Express reports that four women are on the list: Inderjit Kaur Mann (Nakodar), Amandeep Kaur Arora (Moga), Santosh Kataria (Balachaur) and Baljinder Kaur (Talwandi Sabo).

Why are no sitting ministers on the list?

The Hindu says the list fields only sitting MLAs, while the New Indian Express notes that none of the sitting cabinet ministers appears in it. It cites sources as saying ministers will figure in later lists, and says Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema's name is missing, with questions reportedly raised about his role in the Gulzar suicide case in Sangrur. These are the paper's reports, not statements from the party.

What did Bhagwant Mann say?

Mann said candidates who got a positive response in public surveys were considered and that "new faces will also get a chance" in the next list. He said it is AAP's principle to announce candidates three to four months before polls so they can take the government's work to voters, and he took a swipe at the Congress for finalising names late.

What is the political backdrop?

The 117-member Punjab Assembly's term ends on March 16, 2027, and polling is expected around February-March. AAP won 92 seats in 2022 and has 95 MLAs now. The Election Commission has not yet announced the schedule. Congress leaders met in Delhi the same day to discuss factionalism before 2027.

How many candidates has AAP announced for Punjab 2027?

Forty, in a first list; more lists with new faces are expected.

Which seat will Bhagwant Mann contest?

Dhuri in Sangrur district, which he won in 2022 by 58,206 votes.

When does the Punjab Assembly term end?

On March 16, 2027.