The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has formally launched its campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections from Ludhiana. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann released the party's election pamphlet at the Pakhowal Road Indoor Stadium. The event was attended by Cabinet ministers, MLAs, party leaders and hundreds of supporters.
During his address, Mann targeted the opposition parties. He called the Congress a "sinking ship" and referred to the Badals as "baaj".
AAP Punjab Poll Campaign Launch: What Mann Said
Mann said his government had delivered more than it had promised. He cited the state's road safety force (SSF) and claimed that the initiative had helped save 2,700 lives annually.
He also spoke about the Mawan Dhiyan scheme. Mann said that on October 1, phones of women would "beep again" as they received the next instalments under the scheme.
Attacks on BJP-Akali Governments Over Drug Problem
Mann targeted the previous BJP-Akali governments over the drug problem in Punjab. He said the same parties were now organising anti-drug yatras.
Our Take: AAP's Early Start and the Road Ahead
In our view, AAP's decision to launch its campaign well ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections shows the party wants to set the narrative early. By choosing Ludhiana as the launchpad, AAP is signalling that it will not take its existing support for granted.
The jibes at Congress and the Badals are clearly aimed at framing the opposition as weak and out of touch. Calling Congress a "sinking ship" and the Badals "baaj" is political messaging designed to position AAP as the only serious option in Punjab.
To put it plainly, the real test for AAP will be whether its claims on governance — like the SSF saving lives and the Mawan Dhiyan scheme reaching women — translate into voter trust. The party is promising more than it did in its last term. Whether that promise holds up on the ground will decide the 2027 outcome.
For readers in Punjab, this launch marks the beginning of a long political season. The issues AAP is raising now — drug abuse, women's welfare, road safety — are likely to dominate the debate in the months ahead.
