After securing a decisive victory in Ludhiana West bypoll, the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government in Punjab is now preparing for a significant political shake-up. With indications of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle, Mann met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday and emerged to confirm that the state would witness a Cabinet expansion within the next three-four days. The Chief Minister also formally submitted a request to allot office space to AAP in Chandigarh, underlining the party's growing presence in Punjab's political structure.
Mann refrained from disclosing the exact nature of the changes or the names involved but hinted at a strategic reshuffle designed to reflect the public mandate and enhance governance. “We honour the people’s mandate. In 2022, we won Ludhiana West by about 7,000 votes. Now, our margin has nearly doubled to around 12,000,” he said, while confirming that Sanjeev Arora, the newly elected MLA from Ludhiana West and sitting Rajya Sabha MP, will soon be inducted as a Cabinet Minister.
Arora’s victory has not only rejuvenated AAP’s political momentum but also triggered a broader conversation around internal restructuring. With two ministerial positions currently vacant in the 18-member Punjab Cabinet – including the Chief Minister, Arora’s induction is certain, and speculation is rife that at least one more legislator — possibly a woman MLA from the Malwa region or a second-term young leader — may be sworn in alongside him. The intent appears to be to strike a fine balance between regional representation and social inclusion.
Sources suggested that deliberations are ongoing about replacing or reassigning portfolios of at least two sitting Ministers. The reshuffle, likely to coincide with AAP’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting later this week, may also witness the return of a seasoned party MLA from the Majha region, adding weight to rumours about the party exploring a broader rebalancing strategy.
The impending shake-up will mark the seventh Cabinet reshuffle since AAP assumed power in Punjab in 2022. The last such overhaul was in September 2024, when five new ministers were brought in following the exit of four. Like previous reshuffles, performance metrics and regional equations are expected to drive the current changes as well.
Insiders confirmed that party leadership has been meticulously monitoring the political and social engagement of several MLAs who fall within the “consideration zone”. With party brass and CM Mann holding rounds of meetings over the past week, a final decision on ministerial appointments is expected soon.
Arora's elevation to the Cabinet has created a vacancy in the Rajya Sabha, which too will be deliberated in the upcoming PAC meeting. AAP’s national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, has categorically ruled himself out of consideration for the Upper House, saying that the decision will be made collectively by the PAC. However, political observers believed that this could still offer the party an opportunity to either reward loyalty or bring in a prominent face to the national stage. While the name of Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia — currently in-charge of the state’s party affairs in Punjab — may be considered for the Upper House of the Parliament, it is also believed that the PAC may decide on Kejriwal’s name, which he may have to accept.
The Ludhiana West bypoll win has come at a critical juncture for the AAP, especially as murmurs of internal dissatisfaction and allegations of excessive influence from Delhi had begun to surface. Arora clinched the seat with more than 35,000 votes, defeating his nearest Congress rival by over 11,000 votes, while the BJP trailed in third position. The seat fell vacant following the death of the sitting AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi. The polling was held on June 19, and the results were declared on June 23.
The bypoll saw 14 candidates in the fray, but the real contest played out among AAP, Congress, and BJP, offering a critical barometer of public sentiment. The verdict has not only silenced critics within and outside the party but also given the leadership a renewed mandate to act decisively.
Buoyed by the Ludhiana result, AAP is reportedly contemplating triggering another bypoll in Banga. SAD’s MLA Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi, who left the Akali Dal and joined AAP last year, is expected to resign his membership from the state Assembly, paving the way for a contest that could further consolidate the party’s position ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
With over 39 percent vote share in Ludhiana West and the momentum clearly in its favour, AAP seems poised to not only refresh its Cabinet but also its overall political strategy in Punjab. The coming week is set to be politically significant, as the Mann Government prepares to recalibrate its team for the road ahead.
