Two legislators from Patiala district resign from AAP membership just a day after the ruling party announces its first 40 candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections.
Chandigarh, November 1, 2026: The Aam Aadmi Party’s preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections have encountered an early political challenge, with two sitting legislators from Patiala district breaking ties with the ruling party shortly after it unveiled its first batch of election candidates.
Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, representing the Sanaur constituency, and Chetan Singh Jouramajra, the legislator from Samana, announced their resignations from AAP’s primary membership on Sunday.
Their departure comes less than a day after the party released its first list of 40 candidates for the upcoming state elections, highlighting emerging differences within its ranks as preparations for the electoral contest gather momentum.
Neither of the two legislators featured in the initial candidate list. Their political futures had already become uncertain following changes in the party’s constituency-level leadership.
Changes in Local Leadership Raise Questions Over Candidate Selection
The developments in Sanaur and Samana had indicated that AAP might reconsider its choice of candidates for the two Assembly constituencies.
In Sanaur, the party appointed Ranjod Singh Hadana as constituency in-charge, while former Shiromani Akali Dal leader Surjit Singh Rakhra was entrusted with a similar responsibility in Samana.
These appointments had generated speculation about whether the sitting legislators would receive another opportunity to contest on AAP tickets.
Rakhra’s growing involvement in Samana’s political affairs was particularly significant because Jouramajra had previously represented the constituency in the Punjab government as a Cabinet minister.
Jouramajra was removed from the Cabinet during a reshuffle in September 2024. His subsequent political position attracted further attention after Rakhra became increasingly involved in the party’s local organisation.
Pathanmajra’s Differences With AAP Leadership
Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra’s relationship with AAP leadership had also deteriorated before his resignation.
The Sanaur legislator had publicly questioned aspects of the Punjab government’s functioning, including its response to flooding and issues affecting his constituency.
His political standing was further complicated by criminal allegations and legal proceedings against him. The controversies, along with his criticism of senior party leaders, had raised doubts about his prospects of securing another party nomination.
The simultaneous departure of both legislators has brought renewed attention to the ruling party’s management of internal differences ahead of the elections.
Bhagwant Mann Among 40 Candidates Named by AAP
Despite the resignations, AAP has already begun preparations for its campaign by announcing candidates in 40 of Punjab’s 117 Assembly constituencies.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will seek re-election from Dhuri, while Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has been nominated again from Kotkapura.
Sanjeev Arora, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with a money-laundering case, has been named as the party’s candidate from Ludhiana West.
Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh Rouri will contest from Garhshankar.
The first list also includes four women legislators seeking re-election from their respective constituencies:
- Baljinder Kaur — Talwandi Sabo
- Inderjit Kaur Mann — Nakodar
- Santosh Kataria — Balachaur
- Dr Amandeep Kaur Arora — Moga
The party has retained all 40 sitting MLAs included in its initial announcement, indicating that it is relying heavily on established candidates during the opening phase of its election preparations.
AAP Seeks Early Advantage in Punjab Election Campaign
The candidate list was approved following deliberations by AAP’s Political Affairs Committee in New Delhi.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has defended the decision to announce candidates well ahead of polling, explaining that the move would allow nominees sufficient time to engage voters and highlight the government’s work.
AAP is seeking another term in office after its decisive victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.
The elections are expected in early 2027, although the Election Commission has yet to announce the official polling schedule.
What Next for the Two Departing Legislators?
The resignations have generated speculation about the next political moves of Pathanmajra and Jouramajra.
Reports have suggested that both leaders could explore joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, no formal announcement of such a move had been confirmed at the time of reporting.
For AAP, the immediate challenge will be to manage political differences while maintaining organisational unity across Punjab’s constituencies.
With the election campaign beginning to take shape, the party’s handling of these departures and its forthcoming candidate announcements could influence the political environment ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.
