New Delhi: With days ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party which is reportedly being considered as a strong contender in the state this time, has released the first list of candidates for the upcoming polls.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has released a list of 10 candidates.
The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to field 10 of its MLAs again as there is no new face in the first list. The remaining 10 MLAs, who won the election on party ticket last time have quit the party.
The last five years in the state have been very difficult for Kejriwal's party. The AAP had tried its luck for the first time in the 2017 assembly elections and performed well, winning 20 seats in the state and securing the status of the main opposition party.
Harpal Singh, who is heading the party in the Punjab Assembly elections, has been given a ticket from Dirhba. Party leader Aman Arora will once again contest from Sunam while Baljinder Kaur will try her luck in the elections from Talwandi Sabo. Gurmit Singh will contest from Barnala and Kultar Singh will enter the electoral fray from Kotkapura.
It is pertinent to note that the Aam Aadmi Party has suffered two setbacks in the last two days. Rupinder Kaur who was an Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Bathinda Rural has now joined Congress. AAP MLA Jagtar Singh Jagga switched sides to the Congress camp during the Punjab Vidha Sabha session on Thursday.
Five states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur -- will go to polls early next year, while elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat will be held in the later part of the year. Except Punjab, BJP is in power in all these states.