Big blow to AAP in Punjab as two MLAs quit day after party releases first list of 40 candidates for assembly polls

In a big blow to the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, two of its sitting legislators resigned from the party's primary membership on Sunday, a day after it announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Assembly polls. Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Chetan Singh Jouramajra were absent from the list.

Jouramajra, the MLA from Samana and a former minister, announced his resignation in a social media post. Pathanmajra, who represents Sanour, also confirmed that he had left the party.

Both legislators represent constituencies in Patiala district. Reports linked their departure to concerns over the selection of candidates, although Jouramajra did not state a reason for his decision in his post.

The first list did not cover either Sanour or Samana. AAP has so far declared nominees for 40 of Punjab's 117 Assembly seats and has not announced candidates for the two constituencies.

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AAP announces first 40 candidates

AAP released the list on Saturday after discussions involving national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia.

The party retained sitting legislators in all 40 constituencies covered by the announcement.

The list also includes Sanjeev Arora from Ludhiana West, Baljinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo and Amandeep Kaur Arora from Moga.

AAP said the selection of candidates followed an assessment of public feedback. Mann said declaring names several months before polling would give nominees time to contact voters and speak about the government's work.

Elections to the state Assembly are due in early 2027, but the Election Commission has not yet issued the schedule.

The developments in Sanour and Samana follow changes in the party's local organisation.

Earlier this year, former Shiromani Akali Dal minister Surjit Singh Rakhra joined AAP and was given charge of the Samana constituency, represented by Jouramajra.

The two had contested against each other in the 2022 Assembly election, which Jouramajra won.

Jouramajra served as a minister in the Bhagwant Mann government, holding the health portfolio and later other departments. He was dropped from the Cabinet in September 2024 during a reshuffle.

In Sanour, AAP had appointed Ranjodh Singh Hadana as its constituency in-charge in September 2025.

Pathanmajra had separately criticised the state government and senior party leaders over flood-related work and administrative matters. His differences with the leadership were reported well before Saturday's candidate announcement.

Earlier dissent in AAP

The party has faced dissent from other legislators in recent months.

In October, AAP suspended Maur MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana for alleged anti-party activities after he criticised the handling of vacancies in government schools.

Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh had been suspended in June 2025, following his criticism of the government on other issues.

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