Governance challenges and rising opposition threaten AAP’s prospects before crucial Punjab Assembly elections.
After suffering a significant setback in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has turned its political attention almost entirely towards Punjab, the only state where it currently governs. As the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections draw closer, the party leadership has stepped up organisational activities and public outreach in an attempt to recreate the wave that delivered its historic mandate in 2022. This election, however, is expected to be far more challenging than the last. Unlike 2022, when AAP rode a strong anti-incumbency wave against traditional parties, the ruling party will now be judged on its own governance record. The upcoming polls are expected to test not only AAP’s organisational strength but also its ability to overcome growing anti-incumbency, governance concerns, and a series of political controversies that have emerged during its tenure. Although AAP continues to enjoy a formidable grassroots presence—evident from its victory in more than 860 wards during the May 2026 Punjab civic body elections—the political mood appears to be shifting. Recent opinion surveys indicate that the party faces a tougher electoral battle, with a resurgent Congress emerging as its principal challenger and anti-incumbency becoming a dominant factor influencing voter sentiment. Political observers attribute the growing anti-incumbency against the Bhagwant Mann government to a combination of factors, including sustained protests by government employees, tensions with Sikh religious institutions, allegations of irregularities in recruitment examinations, criticism over governance, and mounting concerns over the state’s financial health.
One of the government’s biggest challenges has been discontent among sections of its employees. Delays in implementing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), pending salary revisions, and the continued dependence on contractual employment have fuelled dissatisfaction among various employee groups. “AAP had promised a lot before coming to power, but many commitments remain unfulfilled,” said 75-year-old Gurpreet Singh while speaking to The Sunday Guardian. “Employees are unhappy, and several unions have openly discussed boycotting the government in the next Assembly elections.” The Mann government has also come under intense scrutiny over alleged irregularities in a pharmacy recruitment examination conducted on July 19, 2026. The BJP and the Congress have demanded the resignation of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, accusing the government of failing to ensure transparency in the recruitment process. The state government has categorically denied allegations of an official paper leak, asserting that swift action was taken against those involved in cheating and maintaining that the examination process itself remained uncompromised. Nevertheless, the controversy has handed the opposition another opportunity to question the government’s administrative credibility. Simultaneously, the government has been confronted with protests by electricity department employees, sanitation workers, and staff associated with government health clinics. Meanwhile, opposition parties have also accused the Mann government of mismanaging the state’s finances, alleging that rising public debt and heavy borrowings are being used to serve political interests rather than long-term development. The dissatisfaction is not confined to organised groups alone. Many ordinary voters also express disappointment with the government’s performance.
Tajender Singh, a cab driver, told The Sunday Guardian that he does not believe the ruling party will return to power. “The government has repeated many of the mistakes committed by previous administrations. Employment opportunities remain scarce despite the promises made before the elections. People expected transformational change, but much of that has not materialised,” he said. Another major challenge for the Mann government has been its standoff with the Akal Takht over the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. The Akal Takht objected to the law, saying it was passed without consulting Sikh religious authorities, and summoned Sikh ministers and MLAs from the ruling party while seeking amendments to the legislation. Political observers believe the controversy has strained AAP’s ties with sections of the Sikh community, making it a politically sensitive issue ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Public frustration is also visible at the grassroots level. A shopkeeper near the Golden Temple told The Sunday Guardian that many voters who had backed AAP in 2022 now feel disappointed. “We voted for AAP because we wanted a different kind of government. But many of the issues associated with previous governments continue today— whether it is controversies surrounding religious matters, allegations of paper leaks, water scarcity, or overall governance.
The next election will not be easy for the ruling party,” he said. Despite mounting criticism, political pundits believe AAP continues to enjoy support among economically weaker sections, Dalits, women, and rural voters, largely due to welfare schemes such as the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana and 300 units of free electricity. A political analyst told The Sunday Guardian that these beneficiaries remain less hostile towards the government, creating what AAP leaders describe as an “invisible pro-incumbency” factor. However, the analyst noted that urban and middle-class voters are increasingly dissatisfied over governance, law and order, organised crime, and the continuing drug menace. Ashutosh Kumar, Professor of Political Science at Panjab University, said AAP’s massive 2022 mandate raised high expectations to curb corruption, mafia networks, drug trafficking, and improve Punjab’s economy. “A fair assessment suggests there has been limited progress on many of these fronts, while gangsterism has increased. Like previous governments, AAP is now facing anti-incumbency,” he told The Sunday Guardian. He added that if the Congress remains united, the BJP expands its base, and the Shiromani Akali Dal or its splinter groups regain some of their traditional support, the 2027 Punjab Assembly election is likely to witness a highly competitive multi-cornered contest.
