Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a setback in Punjab after two of its sitting MLAs submitted their resignations from the state Assembly, a day after the party announced its first list of candidates for the 2027 Assembly elections.
The two legislators are Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who represents Sanaur, and Chetan Singh Jouramajra, the MLA from Samana. Their resignations have triggered fresh political activity within the ruling party and raised questions about possible discontent among its elected representatives.
The developments come shortly after AAP announced 40 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections, re-nominating several sitting legislators. Both resignations have drawn attention to internal political equations within the party, particularly in the Patiala district, where the two constituencies are located.
While Pathanmajra has been involved in a prolonged confrontation with the party leadership over several issues, Jouramajra’s decision has brought attention to changes in the party’s local organisation in Samana.
Pathanmajra’s differences with AAP leadership
Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra’s relationship with the AAP leadership had reportedly been strained for some time. His disagreements with the party included criticism of the state government’s handling of floods and issues relating to criminal cases against him.
His resignation adds to the challenges facing the party as it prepares for the next Assembly elections. The timing is significant because AAP had announced its first candidate list just a day earlier, presenting the move as an indication of its election preparedness.
Pathanmajra represents Sanaur in the Punjab Assembly. His differences with the party leadership had already attracted attention, making his resignation less surprising than the departure of some other sitting legislators might have been.
However, the reasons behind his latest decision and its possible implications for his political future will remain important factors in the coming days.
Jouramajra’s resignation raises questions over Samana politics
Chetan Singh Jouramajra’s resignation has also raised questions about the party’s internal arrangements in Samana.
A former Punjab minister, Jouramajra has represented the constituency in the Assembly. His position within the local party organisation reportedly came under scrutiny after former Shiromani Akali Dal leader Surjit Singh Rakhra joined AAP in May.
Rakhra was subsequently given an important responsibility in managing the party’s affairs in Samana. The move was widely viewed as a possible indication that the party leadership was giving greater importance to the new entrant, potentially reducing Jouramajra’s influence in his constituency.
The development appears to have created uncertainty over the political equations in Samana. For a sitting MLA, the entry of a prominent former leader from another party into the same constituency’s organisational structure can affect local influence and future electoral calculations.
Jouramajra’s resignation, coming immediately after the candidate announcement, has therefore attracted attention beyond his individual political decision.
The party has not provided a detailed explanation in the supplied account of the circumstances surrounding the two resignations.
AAP announces first list of 40 candidates
The resignations came a day after AAP released its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The party has re-nominated 40 sitting MLAs in the first list, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann set to contest again from Dhuri. The announcement makes AAP the first major political party to declare a substantial list of candidates for the upcoming state elections.
The list was announced in Delhi after a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC). Mann made the announcement and said the early selection of candidates reflected the party’s preparations, transparency and confidence in the work of its government.
The decision to announce candidates well ahead of the election is intended to give the party’s nominees time to prepare in their respective constituencies. Early announcements can also help candidates establish contact with voters and organise local campaigns before the formal election schedule is declared.
However, the resignations of Pathanmajra and Jouramajra have complicated the political message surrounding the announcement, particularly as both are sitting legislators from Punjab.
Bhagwant Mann to contest from Dhuri
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has once again been fielded from Dhuri, the constituency he represents.
Mann, who became a first-time MLA after serving two terms as a Member of Parliament, described the early candidate announcement as evidence of the party’s confidence in its performance and election strategy.
The list also includes the names of senior legislators holding important positions in the Assembly.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, a two-time MLA, has been nominated from Kotkapura. The Deputy Speaker has been fielded from the Garhshankar Assembly constituency.
The selection of these candidates indicates that the party has chosen to retain several established faces in its first round of nominations.
Jailed minister Sanjeev Arora gets Ludhiana West ticket
One of the notable names in the first list is jailed Cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora, who has been fielded from Ludhiana West.
His inclusion has drawn attention because he is currently in jail. The announcement also stands out because no other Cabinet minister’s name featured in the first list.
The party has not yet announced its complete candidate lineup. The first list covers 40 constituencies, leaving the remaining seats to be addressed in subsequent announcements.
The decision to field Arora from Ludhiana West also highlights the importance AAP has attached to the constituency as it prepares for the next election.
Four women MLAs re-nominated
AAP has also retained four women legislators in their respective constituencies.
The candidates include:
- Baljinder Kaur: Talwandi Sabo
- Inderjit Kaur Mann: Nakodar
- Santosh Kataria: Balachaur
- Amandeep Kaur Arora: Moga
Their inclusion forms part of the party’s decision to re-nominate sitting legislators in the first list.
The announcement provides these candidates with an early opportunity to begin preparing for the election, while also giving the party more time to assess its position in the remaining constituencies.
Resignations put AAP’s internal unity under focus
The departure of two sitting MLAs so soon after the first candidate list has put the spotlight on AAP’s internal political dynamics in Punjab.
Pathanmajra’s differences with the leadership and Jouramajra’s reported concerns over the changing party structure in Samana point to separate developments behind the resignations. However, their decisions have come at a time when the ruling party is attempting to project confidence and organisational readiness ahead of the elections.
The early announcement of 40 candidates was intended to give AAP an advantage in preparing for the 2027 polls. The resignations, meanwhile, have introduced fresh uncertainty over the party’s political management and relations with some of its sitting legislators.
The impact of the departures will depend on the leaders’ next political steps and how the party responds to the developments. With the remaining candidates yet to be announced, AAP will also have to manage local political equations as it moves towards the election campaign.