The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, and one name has immediately attracted attention, that of Sanjeev Arora. The jailed Punjab minister, facing an Enforcement Directorate investigation into an alleged money-laundering case, has been rewarded with a party ticket from Ludhiana West. Apparently, being behind bars is no obstacle to securing AAP’s political backing.
Arora was arrested by the ED on May 9, 2026, in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving more than ₹100 crore and suspected fraudulent GST transactions linked to his company, Hampton Sky Realty. His bail plea was rejected by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on October 16, and he remains lodged in Bhondsi jail in Gurugram. Arora has denied wrongdoing, while AAP has described the investigation as a political vendetta.
But the nomination raises uncomfortable questions about AAP’s much-publicised claims of providing clean politics and an alternative to traditional political parties. The party came to power in Punjab promising transparency, accountability and an end to political corruption. Yet, when it comes to choosing candidates, its leadership appears willing to stand firmly behind leaders facing serious criminal investigations.
This is not the first time AAP has faced criticism over its decision to back leaders facing criminal proceedings. Its supporters argue that investigations by central agencies can be politically motivated and that an accused person must not be treated as guilty before conviction. That principle does not exempt political parties from answering questions about their candidate-selection standards.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will contest from Dhuri, while Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has been renominated from Kotkapura. The early announcement gives the party a head start in its preparations for 2027.
The larger question is about political consistency. AAP cannot demand the highest standards of accountability from its opponents while treating serious allegations against its own leaders as irrelevant to political decision-making.
Punjab voters deserve more than slogans about clean governance. They deserve to know what standards their ruling party actually follows when handing out election tickets.
