Aam Aadmi Party is preparing to release the first list of candidates today for the Punjab Assembly elections 2027. The work of MLAs and public opinion will be given importance in ticket distribution. New faces can be fielded on many seats.
Chandigarh: Before the Punjab Assembly elections 2027, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accelerated the process of selection of candidates. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the party will release the first list of candidates on Saturday, October 31. For this, an important meeting was held in Delhi on Friday in the presence of Arvind Kejriwal. This time the party is preparing to give tickets on the basis of the performance of the sitting MLAs and public feedback. In such a situation, candidates can be changed on many seats.
Ministers and old MLAs may get a chance in the first list
AAP wants to announce its candidates soon for the assembly elections to be held in Punjab next year. On Friday, a discussion regarding ticket distribution was held at the residence of the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia participated in it. Punjab AAP president Aman Arora and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema joined the meeting through video conferencing.
It is reported that the names of about 30 to 35 potential candidates will be considered in the meeting. These may include some sitting ministers, experienced MLAs and new faces. However, how many names will be declared in the first list has not been officially confirmed yet. According to Bhagwant Mann, the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting will be held at 11 am on Saturday. After this, there is a plan to release the first list at around 12 noon. The final decision will come only after the approval of the party.
Survey of work of MLAs before giving tickets
This time AAP does not want to select candidates only on the basis of past political experience. The party has conducted surveys to understand the performance of the sitting MLAs. In these, aspects like his image among the public, work on local problems, contact with people and the possibility of winning the elections again have been seen.
According to the information, along with conducting the survey at its own level, the party has also taken feedback from a private agency. Based on this, discussions are going on regarding tickets. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has made it clear that public opinion will be important in giving tickets. Those MLAs whose work people are satisfied with may get another chance. On the other hand, there is a possibility of new candidates being fielded in place of those leaders against whom there is more resentment.
Within the party, consideration is also being given to fielding the MLAs who have won the elections twice in a row. However, there has been no official announcement that tickets of all the old MLAs have been secured.
AAP will enter the field with the aim of winning more than 100 seats
In the 117-member Punjab Assembly, the Aam Aadmi Party formed the government with a huge majority by winning 92 seats in the 2022 elections. Now the party wants to further improve this performance in 2027. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has set a target of winning more than 100 seats this time. The party is preparing to make the five-year functioning of its government the main issue of the election campaign.
AAP's emphasis will be on development works, facilities provided to the public and taking government schemes to the people. For this, efforts are also being made to strengthen the organization at the assembly level.
Divisional in-charge changed in many assembly constituencies
Before the announcement of the candidates, Aam Aadmi Party has also changed the responsibilities of constituency in-charges in many assembly constituencies of Punjab. New leaders have been given responsibilities in some areas, which is being considered as part of the party's election preparations. The party wants the candidates to get enough time to campaign. By getting tickets early, leaders will be able to increase public relations in their area and work on local issues.
Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann will be the main faces of the party in the assembly elections. Apart from this, the government's work and plans for the next five years can be given a place in the election manifesto.