After a “zero-seat” performance in the recently-concluded Delhi Assembly elections, the Congress party in Punjab has now set its sights firmly on the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls — all prepared to launch an aggressive political campaign against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to reclaim power in the State. AAP, after ruling Delhi for a decade, faced a rout securing just 22 seats — down from 62 in 2020.

With the failure if AAP’s Delhi-model and party led State Government under scrutiny for failing to fulfill its promises in Punjab, the Congress has begun mobilizing leaders at the grassroots level, sharpening its attack on critical issues. Apart from targeting the AAP Government in Punjab, the party is also aiming its attack against the BJP-led Central Government over several issues, particularly the farmers’ unrest and the recent deportation of 30 Punjabi youth from the United States.

While the Congress too faced a massive setback in Delhi polls, the Punjab unit remained optimistic, believing that AAP’s resounding defeat can help the political tide to turn in its favour in the border state. The grand old party believed that its cadre strength and voter base would brace amidst AAP’s weaknesses. The party also believed that now it would be easy for the Congress to counter AAP’s “corruption” narrative. Moreover, AAP’s unfulfilled promises in Punjab also armed the Congress with enough political ammunition.

Cong Gains in AAP’s Weakness

The Delhi election results, though disappointing for the Congress as well, have given the party a renewed sense of direction in Punjab. The leadership believed that despite its losses in Delhi, its organizational structure in Punjab remained intact and robust. With two years to go before the Assembly elections, the Congress has ample time to highlight AAP’s governance failures, consolidate its cadre, and rebuild its grassroots network.

Additionally, the return of several veteran leaders who had previously left the party has reinvigorated its ranks, allowing it to project a united front against the AAP Government. This internal stability stands in stark contrast to the increasing discontent and rifts within the AAP leadership in Punjab. 

Easy to Counter AAP’s Corruption Narrative

AAP came to power in 2022 with the promise of rooting out corruption, launching an anti-graft campaign that led to high-profile arrests of several former Congress Ministers, including Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, and Sunder Sham Arora. However, with both leaders now exonerated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Congress has flipped the narrative, alleging that AAP “misused” state machinery for political vendetta rather than genuine corruption clean-up. 

The party is now using these cases to discredit AAP’s claim of clean governance, arguing that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration weaponized the law to target the opposition while failing to address real issues like unemployment, drug addiction, and economic distress. Moreover, AAP’s own several leaders were embroiled in controversies and allegation of corruption.

Political Ammunition of Unfulfilled Promises

Punjab Congress has also zeroed in on AAP’s unfulfilled poll guarantees, particularly Rs 1,000 monthly financial assistance to women – a flagship promise that remains “unfulfilled”. Beside,s there is no visible progress on ending corruption and drug menace – both of which were central to AAP’s election campaign. That is not all! Illegal sand mining continues unabated, despite AAP’s promises of a crackdown. 

The Congress is actively engaging with voters, reminding them that many of AAP’s bold pre-election commitments remain only on paper.

Previous poll Trends Indicate AAP’s Declining Grip

While AAP is ruling Punjab after securing historic two-third mandate, the recent electoral trends suggested a shift in voter sentiment. In the recent by-elections, Congress managed to snatch the Barnala seat, despite it being considered an AAP stronghold.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress won seven out of Punjab’s 13 seats, while AAP secured just three — an underwhelming performance for the party that swept the 2022 Assembly polls. These results indicate that AAP’s popularity is waning, providing the Congress with a strong platform to mount its comeback. 

Cong’s Micro-Level Approach

Learning from AAP’s campaign strategies, Punjab Congress has instructed its leaders to connect with voters at a micro level, hold public meetings, and raise local issues more effectively. Congress’s student wing, NSUI (National Students' Union of India), under the leadership of Ishpreet Singh, has also stepped up engagement with youth, focusing on unemployment, drug abuse, and the rehabilitation of deported Punjabi youth. 

The recent deportation of 31 Punjabi youth from the US has become a major flashpoint, with Congress pressuring the State Government to take responsibility for their rehabilitation. Party leaders argued that AAP’s failure to address unemployment has forced Punjab’s youth to seek illegal routes to foreign lands, only to face deportation and financial ruin. Congress has warned that if immediate action is not taken to assist the deported youth and their families, it will **launch mass protests across the state. 

With two years to go before the Assembly elections, Punjab Congress is restructuring its leadership, strengthening its ground-level network, and aggressively targeting AAP on governance failures. By focusing on AAP’s unfulfilled promises, corruption flip-flop, and the economic struggles of Punjab’s youth, the party is attempting to position itself as the most viable alternative in 2027.