States » NorthPosted at: Oct 30 2026 3:22PM


AAP discusses Punjab poll candidates; can Amit Shah upset party's electoral plans?

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Oct 30 (UNI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held discussions in Delhi on Friday to finalise candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, setting the stage for a politically sensitive selection process that could trigger internal dissent and offer rival parties, particularly the BJP, an opportunity to exploit divisions within the ruling party.
AAP's first list of candidates could be announced on Saturday, with reports suggesting that around 20 names, including some sitting ministers and legislators, may figure in the initial round. However, the party has not officially confirmed the number of candidates.
Mann was reported to have told journalists in Delhi that the first list would be released at noon on Saturday. A final round of consultations is expected before the announcement.
The exercise comes amid speculation that between 30 and 40 sitting AAP legislators could be denied tickets, although no official confirmation of such a large-scale reshuffle has emerged.
The possibility of widespread changes has raised questions about whether Kejriwal and Mann can manage the ambitions of sitting lawmakers and ticket aspirants without creating opportunities for the opposition.
For union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), any rebellion within AAP could present an opening in Punjab, where the party has been seeking to expand its political influence.
Shah has played a central role in the BJP's electoral expansion and political alliance-building across several states. However, there is no verified evidence of any specific plan by him to engineer defections from AAP in Punjab.
The political risks for AAP are not entirely hypothetical.
In March 2024, then AAP legislator Sheetal Angural and former party parliamentarian Sushil Kumar Rinku joined the BJP, demonstrating how political loyalties can shift ahead of elections.
A fresh round of ticket denials could potentially encourage disgruntled legislators to explore alternatives, including joining the BJP, Congress, or Shiromani Akali Dal, or contesting independently.
Even candidates who secure nominations could face pressure from rival parties, although such defections would depend on local political circumstances.
AAP, which swept to power by winning 92 of Punjab's 117 Assembly seats in 2022, is seeking a second consecutive term amid mounting opposition criticism over law and order, drug trafficking, unemployment and the state's finances.
The party has been restructuring its organisation under senior leader Manish Sisodia, who was given responsibility for Punjab following AAP's defeat in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.
At least 19 Assembly constituencies have seen the appointment of new halqa in-charges between February and October, including Kharar, Chamkaur Sahib, Bathinda Rural, Samana, Jalandhar North, Patti, Amritsar North, Majitha and Shahkot.
These appointments have fuelled speculation about possible changes in the party's candidate selection strategy, particularly in constituencies represented by sitting legislators.
The leadership is believed to be assessing the performance of incumbents, local political equations, public feedback and organisational loyalty before finalising nominations.
Mann has repeatedly defended his government's performance, highlighting free electricity, employment initiatives and improvements in education and healthcare.
"We should not keep changing doctors; otherwise, the disease worsens," Mann said during an earlier election campaign event, urging voters to give his government another opportunity.
For Kejriwal, retaining Punjab is particularly important after AAP lost power in Delhi in 2025, leaving Punjab as its principal centre of political strength.
Announcing candidates months before the election could allow AAP to consolidate its constituency-level organisation and give nominees sufficient time to campaign.
But the same strategy could also provide disappointed aspirants with an opportunity to negotiate with rival parties.
Congress and the Akali Dal, both seeking to regain lost political ground, could compete with the BJP to attract influential leaders denied AAP nominations.
The coming days will therefore test not only AAP's electoral preparations but also the leadership's ability to contain possible dissent.
The central question is whether Kejriwal and Mann can turn early candidate selection into an electoral advantage, or whether Shah's BJP and other opposition parties will find an opportunity to turn internal dissatisfaction into a political setback for the ruling party.
UNI NB RSA
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Neeraj Bali
Tags: #AAP discusses Punjab poll candidates; can Amit Shah upset party's electoral plans?
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