Assembly elections: AAP releases second list of 31 candidates, minister Khudian denied ticket

Aam Aadmi Party has made public its second list of 31 candidates in view of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. With this latest announcement, the party has now finalized its contenders on 71 seats out of the total 117 assembly constituencies in the state. Earlier on October 31, the first list of 40 candidates was released.

The biggest change in this list has surfaced in the Lambi constituency, where sitting Agriculture Minister and MLA Gurmeet Singh Khudian has been dropped from the electoral arena. The party has fielded Randhir Singh Dhira Khudian in his place.

After being denied the ticket, Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that he has discharged his responsibility as a minister and MLA with utmost dedication and spent all his time in the service of the people. He said that the final decision regarding candidates is taken by the party high command and he had no prior inkling of his ticket being cancelled. He also clarified that he has no differences with the party candidate Randhir Singh.

Regarding the selection of candidates, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that ticket distribution has been done solely on the basis of the survey conducted by the party, so that leaders with winning capability could be brought forward.

From the Jalandhar Cantt constituency, Aam Aadmi Party has placed its bet on state general secretary Deepak Bali. He will contest against Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee's new president and sitting MLA Pargat Singh. Deepak Bali was appointed as the in-charge of this constituency during October 2026.

In the Jalandhar Central area too, the party has made businessman Nitin Kohli the new face in place of sitting MLA Raman Arora. Raman Arora is facing legal action in a corruption case. Nothing has yet been proved in court.

Municipal Corporation's sitting Mayor Vineet Dhir has been announced as the candidate from Jalandhar North constituency, who will take on Congress party's sitting MLA Avtar Singh Junior Henry.

Key developments

• Aam Aadmi Party releases second list of 31 candidates for Punjab elections
• Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian replaced by Randhir Singh Dhira from Lambi
• Deepak Bali to contest against Congress chief Pargat Singh from Jalandhar Cantt
• Nitin Kohli given ticket in place of Raman Arora from Jalandhar Central
• City Mayor Vineet Dhir becomes party candidate from Jalandhar North