Punjab assembly polls: AAP PAC to finalise second list in Delhi today
The Aam Aadmi Party's Political Affairs Committee is meeting in Delhi today to finalise the names of new candidates for the Punjab elections.
As part of preparations for the Punjab assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is set to hold a crucial discussion in Delhi at 4 pm today. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has reached the national capital to take part in this discussion.
During this gathering, final approval may be given to the names of around 1.5 to 2 dozen more contenders of the party. According to internal discussions, important decisions may also be taken regarding not giving a repeat chance to the constituencies of six ministers and several sitting legislators.
There are a total of fifteen members in the state cabinet, including the Chief Minister. So far, the names of only two ministers have come to the fore, which include Bhagwant Mann himself from Dhuri and cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora from Ludhiana West, who is currently in jail. The position regarding the names of the remaining ministers is yet to be cleared.
In the initial phase, the party had announced forty candidates, all of whom were sitting MLAs. In that list, assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was fielded from Kotkapura, deputy speaker Jai Krishan Singh Rouri from Garhshankar, and working president Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi from Batala.
After the release of the first list, the party also had to face internal opposition. Samana MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Sanour MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra had announced leaving the party on November 1. Similarly, Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh had submitted his resignation to the speaker on November 2.
Meanwhile, Patti MLA Laljit Singh Bhullar has expressed his intent not to contest the elections. In March 2026, in the suicide case of warehousing corporation officer Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, allegations of abetment to suicide were leveled against Bhullar, following which he had to relinquish his ministerial post and was arrested. Nothing has yet been proved in court.
Key developments
- Crucial meeting of AAP's PAC to be held in Delhi today at 4 pm
- Approval likely on names of 15 to 20 new candidates for Punjab assembly polls
- Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reaches Delhi to attend deliberations
- All 40 candidates announced in the first list were sitting MLAs
