Punjab elections 2027: BJP eyes solo contest as Congress battles factionalism, AAP moves ahead

With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections approaching, the BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have begun preparing for a high-stakes political contest. While the BJP is looking to expand its footprint in the state, the Congress is hoping to return to power but faces internal factionalism. The AAP, meanwhile, is moving ahead with its preparations and is set to release its first list of candidates on October 31.

In today’s episode of DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, conducted a detailed analysis of the political strategies of the three parties, examining the BJP’s growing ambitions, the Congress’s internal divisions and the AAP’s early preparations for the Punjab elections.

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#DNAमित्रों | पंजाब की 'चुनावी तैयारी'..इस बार सब पर भारी! BJP-कांग्रेस को पंजाब में 'उम्मीद' क्यों दिख रही? 'ट्राई सीरीज'.. कौन जीतेगा 'पंजाब लीग'? #DNA #DNAWithRahulSinha #Punjab #BJP #Congress #AAP #PunjabElection @RahulSinhaTV https://t.co/2qqqOcT2Rt

— Zee News (@ZeeNews) October 30, 2026

BJP Plans Sikh Conclave Ahead of Rahul Gandhi's Rally

The BJP has planned a Sikh Conclave in Chandigarh on November 4, ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit to Punjab to launch the Congress's campaign for the 2027 Assembly elections. According to sources, the day-long event will focus on the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, their families and their fight for justice.

Families affected by the riots, lawyers who handled their cases and judges who delivered verdicts in related cases have been invited to attend the conclave.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold an Insaf Rally in Sangrur, the stronghold of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on the same day. The Congress has claimed that more than one lakh people will attend the rally.

The BJP is seeking to use the sensitive issue of the 1984 riots to challenge the Congress's standing among Sikh voters. The party is also expected to refer to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's remark following the riots: "When a big tree falls, the earth shakes a little."

The BJP has also opposed the INDIA bloc's rally in Delhi scheduled for November 1, arguing that the 1984 anti-Sikh riots began on that date. It has accused the Congress of hurting Sikh sentiments by choosing the date and is preparing a march against the rally, with riot-affected families expected to participate.

BJP Eyes All 117 Seats, Cites Rising Vote Share

The BJP is preparing to contest all 117 Assembly seats in Punjab independently for the first time. Encouraged by its electoral growth in West Bengal, the party believes it can expand its support in states where it has traditionally struggled to build a strong base.

In the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP won just three seats. Its tally rose to 77 in 2021, and the party came to power in 2026. The BJP hopes to replicate a similar political transformation in Punjab, where it currently has two MLAs.

The party's electoral performance in Punjab over recent years has strengthened its confidence. In the 2017 Assembly elections, it contested 23 seats in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and won three, securing around 5 per cent of the vote.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP contested three of Punjab's 13 seats as part of its alliance with the Akali Dal. It won two seats and secured a 10 per cent vote share.

The BJP contested 73 seats in the 2022 Assembly elections alongside two smaller parties but won only two, with around 7 per cent of the vote.

Its performance improved in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when it contested all 13 seats independently. Although it failed to win any seat, its vote share rose to 19 per cent, almost double its share in 2019. The party also led in 23 Assembly constituencies during the election.

The results helped the BJP emerge as a stronger force in Punjab after its separation from the Akali Dal. The party's vote share also surpassed that of its former alliance partner.

BJP-Akali Alliance Talks Remain Unclear

Speculation about a possible BJP-Akali Dal alliance has intensified after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal indicated that an arrangement could be considered. The BJP has not publicly clarified its position.

Political observers believe that, if the two parties reunite, the BJP will seek a larger share of seats and play the senior partner's role. Sources say the party would agree to an alliance only if it were allocated at least 60 seats.

This would mark a significant shift from the 2017 arrangement, when the BJP contested 23 seats and the Akali Dal fielded candidates in the remaining 94.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has mocked the possibility of a renewed alliance between the two parties.

BJP Targets AAP Government Over Drugs and Law and Order

The BJP believes the AAP government is facing anti-incumbency in Punjab, particularly over drug abuse and law and order. It has made the fight against drugs a central part of its campaign.

During his Punjab visit on October 20, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met three families affected by drug abuse and promised to make the state drug-free by 2029.

Last month, BJP president Nitin Nabin launched the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, which is scheduled to pass through all Assembly constituencies in the state.

The party has also assigned Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini responsibility for its Punjab election campaign. Saini has been visiting the state regularly and speaking in Punjabi, often wearing a saffron turban, as part of the BJP's effort to connect with local voters.

Punjab's demographic profile is central to the contest. Sikhs account for approximately 58 per cent of the population, while Hindus make up around 39 per cent. Dalits constitute about 32 per cent, the highest proportion among Indian states, and belong to both Sikh and Hindu communities.

While the BJP has traditionally enjoyed support among Hindu voters, it has been seeking to expand its appeal among Sikhs by promoting Sikh leaders. Kewal Singh Dhillon has been appointed Punjab BJP president, becoming the party's first Jat Sikh state president in the state. Former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has also been given an important role in the election campaign.

A possible alliance with the Akali Dal could help the BJP attract a larger share of Sikh votes.

Congress Sees Opportunity After 2024 Lok Sabha Gains

The Congress is confident of returning to power in Punjab in 2027, drawing encouragement from its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

After its defeat in the 2022 Assembly polls, the party won seven of Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha seats in 2024, emerging as the state's largest party with a 26 per cent vote share.

The Congress subsequently stepped up its campaign against the Bhagwant Mann government, targeting it over drug abuse, law and order and sacrilege-related issues.

However, internal divisions have emerged as a major challenge. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi led opposition within the party against Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel and former state Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

The disagreement spilled into public programmes, with posters targeting Baghel appearing at several locations. Supporters of rival factions also reportedly came close to physical altercations.

Amid the tensions, Sachin Pilot replaced Baghel as the Congress's Punjab in-charge, while Pargat Singh was appointed state Congress president in place of Warring.

The party continues to face divisions among supporters of Channi, Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, and Warring.

Pargat Singh's immediate challenge will be to bring the factions together before the elections. Rahul Gandhi is expected to use his November 4 rally to send a message of unity and demonstrate that the Congress can overcome its internal differences.

AAP Announces Early Candidate Selection Strategy

While the BJP and Congress are preparing through rallies and organisational changes, the AAP has moved ahead with its candidate selection process.

The party is scheduled to announce its first list of candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections on October 31. An important meeting was held at party chief Arvind Kejriwal's residence in Delhi, attended by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Manish Sisodia, the party's Punjab in-charge.

The leaders discussed potential candidates, finalised some names and forwarded them to the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC). The committee's next meeting is scheduled for 11 am on October 31, when the candidates on the first list are expected to be approved.

The AAP plans to announce all its candidates well before the official declaration of the elections, giving them sufficient time to reach out to voters and prepare for the contest.

The party currently has 92 of the 117 MLAs in the Punjab Assembly. Whether its early preparations will give it an advantage over the BJP and Congress remains to be seen as the three parties step up their campaigns for 2027.