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EYE ON INDIA NOVEMBER 20, 2026 | The Indian Eye 8

AAP’s Punjab strategy:

An early start, selective reshuffle

and a test of its record

With 71 candidates announced for 117 seats, Bhagwant Mann’s party is seeking a head

start, rewarding grassroots workers and replacing vulnerable incumbents — but its early

campaign also exposes the risks of governing-party fatigue.

OUR BUREAU The candidate spread across Ma-
jha, Doaba and Malwa suggests AAP
New Delhi
wants a statewide campaign rather
he Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) than relying only on Malwa, the re-
has begun the race for the 2027 gion that powered its 2022 break-
TPunjab Assembly election with through. It is also drawing on leaders
a strategy built around time, perfor- from other political backgrounds,
mance and selective renewal. By an- including former BSP leader Jasvir
nouncing 71 candidates well ahead of Singh Garhi and Pawan Kumar Tinu,
polling, it wants to give nominees a to widen its electoral reach across the
head start, settle local equations and state.
force the opposition to respond while But the reshuffle carries risks.
it is still working out its line-up. Dropped MLAs may rebel, work
AAP has dropped several sitting against official candidates or become
legislators, including Agriculture assets for rivals. The departure of
Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian legislators after the first list shows
from Lambi, and replaced MLAs that early announcements do not au-
and former ministers in Patti, Kharar tomatically ensure discipline. AAP’s
and Chamkaur Sahib. The message leadership must prevent ticket distri-
is that an Assembly seat, or even a bution from becoming a public dis-
Cabinet position, does not guarantee Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann welcomes former ‘Waris Punjab De’ leaders and play of factionalism.
renomination. office-bearers from Amritsar rural district as they join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Mann’s claim that AAP is “lead-
The contrast with the first list ing 71–0” because rival parties re-
is telling. On October 31, AAP an- in Chandigarh on Wednesday. (@BhagwantMann X/ANI Photo) main caught in internal disputes is a
nounced 40 candidates, all sitting campaign line, not an electoral ver-
MLAs, including Chief Minister That claim goes to the heart of and feedback back to the party,” dict. Congress remains a major chal-
Bhagwant Mann from Dhuri. The AAP’s political brand: a party that Mann said. Nominees can build local lenger, while the Shiromani Akali
second list brings in new faces, con- rewards performance rather than networks before opponents finalise Dal is seeking political space and the
stituency-level organisers and lead- family connections or money. Mann their line-ups, while the leadership BJP is trying to expand its indepen-
ers who joined from other parties. It cited a mobile-phone repair tech- gets time to manage discontent. dent base. The opposition’s ability to
also fields two sitting MPs, Gurmeet nician who had earlier received a AAP’s 2022 victory — 92 of offer a credible alternative will mat-
Singh Meet Hayer from Barnala and ticket, saying, “We do not judge a Punjab’s 117 seats — gives it a for- ter as much as AAP’s head start.
Raj Kumar Chabbewal from Phag- person by their profession; we look midable starting point. But repeating The calculation is clear: AAP
wara. The selection combines conti- at what they do for the people.” But that sweep is harder. It is no longer wants the election to be a referen-
nuity with an attempt to refresh the the choices will be judged against this an insurgent force challenging an dum on its governance and its claim
party’s local presence. claim. Replacing Khuddian with his entrenched political class; it is the in- to clean, performance-based politics.
Mann has presented the process relative Randhir Singh Dhira Khud- cumbent government seeking anoth- Early candidate selection can ener-
as evidence of AAP’s difference from dian could invite questions about er term. Its campaign must defend gise workers and give nominees time
established parties. He said candi- how consistently the party applies its its record on public services, employ- to establish themselves.
dates were selected after examining merit-based principle. Replacing in- ment, agriculture, law and order and But the party cannot select its
survey reports, public feedback and cumbents may signal accountability, state finances. Mann has said AAP way out of anti-incumbency. Its
their work on the ground. but can also alienate their supporters. will seek votes on its work in electric- candidates will have to defend the
“There is no quota system, no “We want our candidates to get ity, water, schools, hospitals, infra- government’s record constituency
nepotism or recommendations work, the maximum time and opportunity structure and roads. The question is by constituency — and persuade
and no lobbying exists. Only your to reach out to the public, present the whether voters see enough improve- voters that a second term would
work matters, along with your popu- party’s policies and achievements, ment in their daily lives to reward the deliver more than the promise of a
larity among the public,” he said. and bring the people’s suggestions government again. fresh start.

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