The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced candidates for several constituencies ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, but Jalandhar West remains one of the seats awaiting a final decision. The constituency has attracted attention in Jalandhar, particularly because Punjab Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat, who currently represents the seat, is among the prominent AAP leaders associated with it.
The party's reported list of 71 candidates, comprising its October 31 announcement of 40 names and a November 12 document containing another 31 names, does not include a candidate for Jalandhar West. The November 12 document still requires separate official confirmation, but the constituency has not figured in either of the two lists discussed so far.
According to party sources, discussions regarding Jalandhar West are still underway and the leadership has not finalised its candidate. Further deliberations may take place before the party announces its decision. However, AAP has not officially disclosed the reason for keeping the constituency pending or confirmed any change in its candidate selection.
Why Jalandhar West is politically significant
Jalandhar West has witnessed changes in political representation over successive elections.
In the 2012 Assembly elections, BJP candidate Chuni Lal Bhagat won the constituency with 48,207 votes, defeating Congress candidate Suman Kaypee by 11,343 votes.
In 2017, Congress candidate Sushil Kumar Rinku won the seat, defeating BJP's Mahinder Pal Bhagat by 17,334 votes.
The constituency then moved to AAP in the 2022 Assembly elections when Sheetal Angural defeated Sushil Kumar Rinku by 4,253 votes. Angural secured 39,213 votes against Rinku's 34,960.
However, the political equation changed in March 2024 when Angural resigned as an AAP MLA and joined the BJP, necessitating a by-election.
Mohinder Bhagat's decisive victory in 2024
AAP fielded Mohinder Bhagat in the July 2024 Jalandhar West by-election, and he registered a decisive victory against his former party colleague Sheetal Angural.
Bhagat secured 55,246 votes, while BJP candidate Angural received 17,921 votes. Congress candidate Surinder Kaur finished third with 16,757 votes.
Bhagat won by a margin of 37,325 votes, giving AAP a significant victory in the constituency. He subsequently took oath as an MLA on July 17, 2024.
The by-election was particularly important for AAP as it came after the resignation of its sitting legislator and the subsequent change in political allegiance.
Will AAP retain Mohinder Bhagat or consider another name?
With Jalandhar West missing from the candidate announcements discussed so far, attention is now on the AAP leadership's next move.
Mohinder Bhagat's victory in the 2024 by-election gives him an established electoral presence in the constituency. However, the party has not officially confirmed whether he will be renominated for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Party sources indicate that discussions are continuing, but the final decision rests with the AAP leadership. Until an official announcement is made, Mohinder Bhagat's candidature should be treated as undecided rather than confirmed.
The constituency is therefore among the seats to watch as AAP continues its candidate-selection exercise ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.