Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced on June 12, 2026, that Bhagwant Mann will be the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Punjab. During a roadshow in Bathinda, Kejriwal suggested the polls might be held earlier than the previously scheduled date of February 2027, possibly as soon as November 2026. He urged party members to prepare for this shift in timeline and work towards ensuring Mann retains his position as Chief Minister.

Kejriwal stated, “I am told that the polls will be held in November 2026 and not February 2027. So, only four months are left now. We must get to work and make Bhagwant Mann the chief minister again.” His comments emerged shortly after the party achieved significant victories in civic elections across Punjab.

At the same event, Kejriwal, along with senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia and Punjab AAP president Aman Arora, highlighted the recent election success where AAP candidates were elected mayors in several municipalities, including Barnala, Moga, Batala, and Bathinda.

Recent Civic Elections Showcase AAP’s Strength

Kejriwal expressed gratitude towards the voters for what he termed a “grand victory” in the local body elections, noting that AAP garnered 958 out of 1,977 wards across eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils, and 19 nagar panchayats. He attributed these successes to the public’s satisfaction with AAP’s governance during its four years in power.

He remarked on the positive shift in public sentiment compared to the last years of previous administrations. “People are happy with our rule. I see smiles on people’s faces and feel good that after four years, people are liking our work,” he added.

Without naming them, Kejriwal also referred to rival political parties, suggesting some of them have been embroiled in scandals and internal conflicts. He highlighted the contrast of AAP, which he claimed remains committed to serving the public.

Kejriwal Praises Mann’s Leadership and Integrity

Kejriwal lauded Bhagwant Mann for his leadership, asserting that Punjab has not witnessed a chief minister as honest as him in the last 75 years. He claimed no allegations of corruption had been made against Mann throughout his tenure, indicating that if there were any, the central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would have taken action against him.

The AAP leader asserted, “If he faced any allegation, do you think Modi would have spared Mann? He would have been hounded by ED and CBI raids.” Kejriwal praised the lack of controversy surrounding Mann compared to previous leaders.

Kejriwal further elaborated on the welfare initiatives undertaken by the AAP government, which include free electricity provision, health insurance coverage of Rs 10 lakh, and various financial assistance programmes for women. He emphasised the need to continue this work and urged the public to ensure Mann’s re-election. “You must make Bhagwant Mann the Chief Minister again so that the remaining works can be completed,” he concluded.

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