Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, who is contesting from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, had joined Congress in 2004. Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, the candidate from Amritsar parliamentary seat, was earlier with the Congress and considered close to the current Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa. (File photos)
Only four out of the 13 candidates fielded by the Aam Aadmi Party for the June 1 Lok Sabha elections in Punjab are the leaders who started their political career with the party. Of the other nine, one is a Punjabi singer and actor and eight imports from other political parties. Also eight of the 13 candidates are legislators, including five Cabinet ministers. Of the five Cabinet ministers, three were associated with other parties in the past.
Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, who is contesting from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, had joined Congress in 2004. He was the covering candidate for former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh in 2017 Punjab Assembly elections. He quit the Congress in July 2021 to join the AAP, which announced his candidature from the Lambi Assembly constituency in the 2022 state elections. Khuddian turned out to be the giant-killer, defeating Shiromani Askali Dal stalwart and five-time CM Parkash Singh Badal in the Vidhan Sabha polls.
Similarly, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, contesting from Khadoor Sahib in the Lok Sabha polls, was a staunch supporter of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon. He later switched allegiance and supported the Congress in the 2017 Assembly elections. He again jumped ship and in 2022, Bhullar contested on an AAP ticket from Patti and defeated Kairon.
Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, the candidate from Amritsar parliamentary seat, was earlier with the Congress and considered close to the current Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa. However, he switched sides later and joined the AAP and won from Ajnala Assembly constituency in the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections.
The other two ministers, including Balbir Singh (fielded from Patiala parliamentary seat) and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (contesting from Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency), have been associated with the AAP ever since they started their political career. Balbir Singh was associated with the 2011 Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement, which ultimately led to the birth of Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP. Meet Hayer is considered among the Young Turks of the AAP.
The AAP poached Congress’ former MLA Gurpreet Singh GP and has now fielded him from Fatehgarh Sahib parliamentary seat. In Hoshiarpur, it has fielded Congress MLA Raj Kumar Chabbewal. A few days ago, the party named former SAD MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu from Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency.
Before 2022 Assembly elections, the AAP had inducted Ashok Pappi Parashar, a Congress leader then, into the party. Now, Parashar has been fielded by the AAP from Ludhiana parliamentary seat. AAP’s Anandpur Sahib candidate Malvinder Singh Kang was earlier with the BJP. Kang had resigned from BJP during the Delhi farmers’ agitation and joined the AAP.
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The ruling party also ignored its workers and nominated singer-actor Karamjit Anmol from Faridkot Lok Sabha seat.
Apart from Balbir Singh and Meet Hayer, MLAs Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi (fielded from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat) and Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar (named from Ferozepur parliamentary constituency) had also started their political career with the AAP.
Sherry Kalsi was denied ticket by the AAP in 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections when singer Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi was fielded from the Batala assembly segment which he lost. In 2022 polls Sherry Kalsi won the election from Batala.
Kaka Brar had plunged into politics and joined the AAP taking inspiration from his sister (Gurpreet Kaur), who was associated with Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption movement.
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More
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