Archive · 25 Aug 2026
BJP Vows to Contest All 117 Punjab Assembly Seats
The BJP is getting ready for Punjab’s next state election.
Its leader BL Santosh said the party will nominate candidates in all 117 Assembly seats.
He said the BJP wants to win the 2027 election and form the government.
He made the announcement at a party meeting in Patiala.
The BJP plans to build stronger teams at local polling booths.
It also wants to tell people about its policies and the Central government’s work.
AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema said the BJP would not succeed, whether it contests alone or with another party.
The BJP responded by saying the AAP government had not delivered on education and healthcare.
The two parties also criticized each other’s records in Punjab.
BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh said the party will contest all 117 Punjab Assembly seats.
Santosh said the BJP aims to win the 2027 election and form the state government.
He made the announcement during a zonal meeting in Patiala amid speculation about a possible BJP-SAD alliance.
The BJP plans to strengthen its organisation to the booth level and promote its policies and the Central government’s achievements.
AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema dismissed the BJP’s prospects, while the BJP accused the AAP government of failing on education, healthcare and law and order.
- Who
- Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh, Punjab BJP leaders and AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema.
- What
- The BJP said it will contest all 117 Punjab Assembly seats and seek to form the state government; AAP rejected the BJP’s prospects.
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday during Santosh’s two-day organisational visit; the targeted Assembly election is scheduled for 2027.
- Where
- At a zonal meeting in Patiala, with further meetings planned in Bathinda, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
- Why
- To prepare for the election, strengthen the BJP organisation to the booth level and present the party’s policies and the Central government’s achievements to Punjab voters.
BJP’s Position
AAP’s Position
Electoral prospects
BJP’s Position
The BJP says Punjab is ready for change, that it will contest all 117 seats and that it will win and form the state government.
AAP’s Position
Harpal Singh Cheema says the BJP will not succeed in Punjab, whether it contests alone or in an alliance, and that the contest is directly between the AAP and other parties.
Government performance
BJP’s Position
The BJP says the AAP government has failed to fulfil its education-revolution promise, that its health revolution has failed, that no new hospital was opened, and that law and order is poor.
AAP’s Position
Cheema says the AAP fulfilled all five guarantees announced before March 2022 within four years and expects the party to improve on its 2022 performance.
Punjab’s past governance
BJP’s Position
The BJP’s broader criticism includes claims that Punjab has been marginalised, its debt is rising and a mafia is ruling the state.
AAP’s Position
Cheema criticized the Akali Dal, alleging that desecration incidents and the spread of drugs occurred during the Akali Dal-BJP government.
- Party making announcement
- Bharatiya Janata Party
- Announcing leader
- BL Santosh, national general secretary (organisation)
- Punjab Assembly seats
- 117
- Target election
- 2027 Punjab Assembly election
- Main meeting location
- Patiala
- Organisational focus
- Booth-level strengthening, coordination and worker participation
- AAP response
- Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the BJP would not succeed, whether contesting alone or in an alliance
