AAP Releases First Punjab Candidate List, Names CM Mann for Dhuri and Jailed Minister Arora for Ludhiana West

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, fielding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann from Dhuri and jailed minister Sanjeev Arora from Ludhiana West, according to a report by India Today published on October 31, 2026. The party has also retained 40 sitting MLAs in its initial list.

Candidate Selections and Strongholds

• Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been nominated to contest from the Dhuri assembly constituency, an area considered an AAP stronghold where he secured a victory in the 2022 elections.
• Jailed minister Sanjeev Arora has been fielded from the Ludhiana West assembly seat. Arora previously won the constituency in a 2025 by-election.
• Media reports indicate that jailed MP Amritpal Singh may also consider contesting from Dhuri.

Campaign and Legal Context

Chief Minister Mann has initiated his door-to-door campaign for the 2027 Assembly elections from Dhuri, under the campaign theme 'Mann Da Munafa'. Meanwhile, Sanjeev Arora was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May 2026 in connection with a money laundering probe involving alleged fake GST purchases and fraudulent input tax credit claims under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED also previously attached assets linked to Arora and related entities under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Verification and Practical Implications

Readers can verify the original candidate announcement through official Aam Aadmi Party communications and major news outlets covering the Punjab elections. The reported legal proceedings involving Sanjeev Arora can be cross-referenced through official Enforcement Directorate statements and court records.