The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is facing growing internal dissent following the announcement of its second list of candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections. While candidates who secured party tickets are celebrating, several leaders who were denied nominations have expressed disappointment, creating political uncertainty within the party.
 

In its first list, AAP had renominated 40 sitting MLAs. However, the second list has dropped seven sitting legislators, apart from Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, from the candidate lineup. The announcement of Sonia Mann as the party's candidate from Raja Sansi has triggered strong resentment, with three senior party leaders submitting their resignations.
 

Sukhdeep Singh Chhina, director of the Punjab Dairy Development Board, resigned, alleging that seniority had been overlooked in the ticket allocation process. Rajbir Singh, the party's constituency in-charge in Raja Sansi, resigned from the primary membership of AAP. Gurdev Singh Joban Jhanjoti, constituency coordinator of the party's Scheduled Caste wing, has also stepped down.
 

Dr Charanjit Singh Announces Election Bid from Chamkaur Sahib
 

Discontent has also emerged in Chamkaur Sahib, where AAP has fielded Jasvir Singh Garhi instead of sitting MLA Dr Charanjit Singh. Dr Charanjit Singh had defeated former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in the 2022 Assembly elections.
 

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the party's decision, Dr Charanjit Singh has announced that he will contest the upcoming election from Chamkaur Sahib. However, he has not yet disclosed whether he will enter the electoral contest as an independent candidate or join another political party.
 

Meanwhile, Shutrana MLA Kulwant Singh Bazigar has maintained silence following the denial of a party ticket. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, whose name has also been dropped from the candidate list, has accepted the party's decision. Jailed MLA Laljit Singh Bhullar had already announced before the ticket declarations that he would not contest the elections.
 

Anmol Gagan Mann Says She Had Decided Not to Contest
 

Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Mann clarified her position through a social media post on Friday. She stated that she had already informed AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on August 5, 2026, during a meeting in Delhi at noon that she did not wish to contest the elections.
 

She further said that Kejriwal had contacted her over the phone three days earlier to ask about her decision, and she had again declined to contest. According to her, the decision not to seek another electoral nomination was entirely her own. She also extended her best wishes to the party.
 

The party is also facing concerns over possible defections. Three AAP MLAs — Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh — have already joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
 

With several leaders unhappy over ticket distribution, AAP is concerned that more disappointed aspirants could turn towards rival political parties. The party is therefore proceeding cautiously amid the possibility of further political developments.
 

Chabbewal Family Gets Two Tickets
 

While several leaders are unhappy with the candidate selection, the Chabbewal family has emerged among the beneficiaries of the second list, securing two party nominations.
 

Ishank Chabbewal has once again been nominated from the Chabbewal constituency, while his father, Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, has been given the party ticket from Phagwara.
 

Jagraon MLA Sarvjit Kaur Manuke has also celebrated receiving the party nomination for the third consecutive time.
 

Meanwhile, political activity is intensifying in constituencies where AAP has yet to announce its candidates. Aspirants from these seats are increasingly anxious as they await the party's decision.
 

The situation is particularly challenging in constituencies where sitting MLAs are expected to be replaced by new faces, making candidate selection a sensitive issue for the ruling party ahead of the Assembly elections.