The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has unveiled its initial list of eight candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, featuring prominent figures such as cabinet ministers and actor Karamjeet Anmol. Notable entries include Karamjeet Anmol, the Punjabi actor-turned-politician, who will contest from the Faridkot constituency.
Among the candidates are five cabinet ministers, indicating a strong lineup from the AAP. The ministers selected for the polls are Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Amritsar, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Khadoor Sahib, Gurmeet Singh Khudian from Bathinda, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur, and Balbir Singh from Patiala. Additionally, Jalandhar MP Sushil Rinku has been nominated once again from the same seat.
A significant addition to the list is former Congress MLA Gurpreet Singh GP, who recently joined the AAP and has been nominated to contest from the Fatehgarh Sahib constituency.
Punjab, with its 13 Lok Sabha constituencies, holds strategic importance in the upcoming elections. The AAP, which currently governs Punjab, has decided to contest all seats independently, diverging from its alliance with the Congress. This move sets the stage for a potential face-off between the two parties in Punjab, reminiscent of the scenario in West Bengal, where political allies are gearing up to contest against each other.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab is also gearing up for the polls, with plans to finalize nominees for all 13 seats. Speculation looms over a possible alliance between the BJP and its former partner, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Additionally, there are rumors of suspended Congress MP Preneet Kaur joining the BJP and contesting from Patiala, a seat she previously held as a Congress candidate. Kaur is the wife of former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.