Nitin Kohli thanks Kejriwal, CM Mann and party workers for their trust, says he is ready with a game plan to win Jalandhar Central and serve the people
Jalandhar News: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced Nitin Kohli as its candidate from Jalandhar Central for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The announcement marks a significant milestone in Kohli’s political journey and reflects the confidence reposed in him by AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Nitin Kohli thanks party leadership, family and supporters
While interacting with the media after the announcement, Nitin Kohli expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal for placing their trust in him and giving him the responsibility of contesting from Jalandhar Central. He thanked the party leadership, block presidents, councillors and party workers for their continued support. He also expressed his appreciation to his family, friends, supporters and members of the media for standing by him throughout his journey.
Kohli said he was fully prepared to take on this responsibility and serve the people of Jalandhar Central with renewed dedication. He added that he already had a game plan in place for the constituency and was determined to win the seat and work towards better development, improved public facilities and the welfare of residents. He said his focus would remain on fulfilling people’s expectations and working for the progress of Jalandhar Central.
Nidhi Kohli expresses confidence in people’s support
Nitin Kohli’s wife, Nidhi Kohli, also expressed confidence in the party’s prospects in Jalandhar Central. She said that over the past few days, they had been interacting with residents across the constituency and had witnessed positive responses from people. She observed that residents were happy with the various welfare schemes and initiatives of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government.
Nidhi Kohli expressed hope that the positive response from people would translate into electoral support and that the party would win Jalandhar Central in the 2027 Assembly elections. She said they looked forward to serving the people of the constituency and continuing their efforts towards public welfare and development.
With a strong association with Jalandhar’s sports industry, decades of involvement in sports administration and a growing presence in public life, Kohli’s candidature brings together experience in business, sports, social initiatives and constituency-level development. His journey in public life has been centred on strengthening Jalandhar’s sporting identity, improving civic infrastructure, creating opportunities for young people and promoting public welfare.
From sports industry to political leadership
A prominent industrialist associated with Jalandhar’s sports goods industry, Nitin Kohli formally joined the Aam Aadmi Party on May 29, 2025, in the presence of senior party leaders Manish Sisodia and Aman Arora. He was subsequently entrusted with the responsibility of AAP Jalandhar Central Halka In-charge.
With more than four decades of association with sports, Kohli has remained closely connected with Jalandhar’s sporting ecosystem. His experience in the sports industry and administration has shaped his approach towards promoting grassroots participation, developing modern sporting facilities and creating better opportunities for emerging talent.
Fit Central Jalandhar: A vision to make every ward a sports hub
One of Kohli’s major initiatives is Fit Central Jalandhar, launched in August 2025 with the vision of developing modern sports and fitness facilities across all 23 wards of Jalandhar Central.
The initiative aims to bring playgrounds, synthetic badminton and volleyball courts, walking tracks, open gyms, floodlights and recreational facilities closer to residents.
Work initially started at Surya Enclave and Adarsh Nagar, while additional facilities were planned for other localities.
The project goes beyond the development of physical infrastructure. Its broader objective is to make sports and fitness accessible to children, women, senior citizens and people across different age groups.
Kohli has also proposed inter-ward sports leagues covering boys, girls, women, men and veterans, with free playing kits and sports equipment for participants.
The initiative aims to encourage young people to move away from excessive screen time and participate in outdoor activities, sports and healthy competition.
Bringing international hockey back to Jalandhar
One of the major highlights of Kohli’s involvement in sports administration has been his association with bringing international hockey back to Jalandhar.
As President of Hockey Punjab and Associate Vice-President of Hockey India, he was associated with the organisation of the Hero Men’s Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026, jointly hosted in Jalandhar and Mohali.
The tournament brought six national teams, including India, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Japan and Bangladesh, to Punjab, placing Jalandhar once again in the international hockey spotlight.
The competition provided hockey enthusiasts in the city an opportunity to witness international-level hockey on home ground. Preparations included upgrading the Surjit Hockey Stadium and improving facilities for players and officials.
Following the tournament, Kohli expressed his vision of bringing regular national and international hockey competitions to Jalandhar and exploring the possibility of hosting the 2027 Junior Hockey World Cup in Punjab.
Burlton Park Sports Hub: Reviving Jalandhar’s hockey legacy
The development of Burlton Park Sports Hub is another important part of the city’s sporting vision.
The long-awaited project received renewed momentum after its foundation stone was laid in June 2025 by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
Kohli has been associated with monitoring the project’s progress and coordinating with the district administration, municipal authorities and other stakeholders.
The redevelopment of the Surjit Hockey Stadium, including upgraded changing rooms, technical facilities, media infrastructure and player amenities, was particularly important ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy.
These improvements were aimed at making the venue better equipped to host major international competitions while providing improved facilities to players, officials and spectators.
Sports-themed murals and nature trail: Giving public spaces a new identity
On October 29, 2026, Kohli unveiled sports-themed murals near DC Park in Old Baradari as part of the Fit Central initiative.
The murals feature athletes in action across different sporting disciplines and aim to promote sporting culture, discipline and Jalandhar’s rich sporting heritage through public art.
The programme was attended by prominent sports administrators and hockey personalities, including Bhola Nath Singh, RP Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Manpreet Singh.
The same locality is also witnessing the development of a nature trail, incorporating greenery, plantation and recreational facilities.
DC Park was renamed Varinder Singh Ghumman Park in memory of the renowned bodybuilder. The park features a volleyball court, synthetic badminton court and walking track.
Nature trail and development of sports facilities
The nature trail project near Old Baradari includes a walking track, volleyball court, synthetic badminton court and plantation along the stretch connecting important public and administrative locations.
The broader Fit Central vision also includes modern playgrounds across all 23 wards, with facilities for badminton, football, volleyball and cricket.
A synthetic volleyball court was developed in a five-acre park in Surya Enclave, while a synthetic badminton court was constructed in Adarsh Nagar Park.
These facilities are intended to provide neighbourhood-level access to organised sports rather than making residents dependent on a limited number of central sporting venues.
Road infrastructure and civic development
Apart from sports, Kohli has been associated with several civic development initiatives in Jalandhar Central.
In January 2026, development works were inaugurated in Improvement Trust colonies. These works focused on reconstructing roads and improving connectivity for residents.
In December 2025, several development projects were reported as approved or at different stages of execution in Jalandhar. These included road reconstruction, drainage and sewerage improvements, park development, interlocking tiles and footpaths.
Dedicated cycle lanes and better traffic management
Another initiative associated with Kohli was the pilot project for dedicated lanes for cyclists and slow-moving vehicles.
In June 2026, work began on identifying and marking separate lanes on selected stretches, including Nakodar Chowk to Football Chowk and Football Chowk to Kapurthala Chowk.
The initiative aimed to improve road safety and provide better movement space for cyclists and other slow-moving vehicles.
The proposal also involved coordination between the Municipal Corporation and Commissionerate Police. It reflected an effort to address urban traffic management while encouraging cycling as an environmentally friendly mode of transport.
Public Service Centre and free e-rickshaw service
Public welfare has also been an important part of Kohli’s constituency-level activities.
A Public Service Centre was opened in Rama Mandi to provide residents with a local platform for raising civic grievances and accessing assistance.
In June 2026, a free e-rickshaw service was launched for senior citizens in Jalandhar Central. The service was designed to help elderly residents reach markets and other essential destinations more conveniently.
It added a public-service dimension to his constituency activities, with a focus on accessibility and mobility for senior citizens.
Sanitation, cleanliness and community development
Improving municipal services and cleanliness has also featured in the development agenda.
In December 2025, approval was reported for the recruitment of sanitation workers for the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation to strengthen the city’s sanitation workforce.
The proposal was intended to address staff shortages and improve cleanliness and civic services.
Earlier, cleanliness and beautification drives had also been undertaken across several wards, alongside community outreach and assistance for residents. Relief kits were also distributed to flood-affected families in August 2024.
Hockey Punjab leadership and future sporting opportunities
In September 2026, Kohli was elected unopposed as President of Hockey Punjab. He also serves as Associate Vice-President of Hockey India.
His involvement in sports administration has included working with hockey administrators, players and other stakeholders to strengthen the sporting ecosystem in Punjab.
His vision includes better infrastructure, opportunities for emerging players, more international competitions and greater participation at the grassroots level.
The hosting of the Asian Champions Trophy has provided a platform for further discussions about bringing major hockey tournaments to Punjab, particularly Jalandhar.
A new chapter for Jalandhar Central
Since entering active politics, Nitin Kohli’s public activities have covered three broad areas: strengthening sports infrastructure through Fit Central Jalandhar, promoting international hockey and improving civic facilities and public services in Jalandhar Central.
From neighbourhood sports courts and the Burlton Park Sports Hub to road reconstruction, sanitation, public spaces, dedicated cycle lanes and services for senior citizens, these initiatives represent different aspects of his work in the constituency.
His association with the sports industry and hockey administration has also brought renewed attention to Jalandhar’s identity as a major sporting centre, while his political role has expanded his engagement with local development and public welfare.
With the Aam Aadmi Party announcing him as its candidate from Jalandhar Central for the 2027 Assembly elections, Kohli’s public journey has entered a new phase.
Following the announcement, celebrations began across Jalandhar Central, with party workers, supporters and local residents coming together to mark the occasion. Celebratory scenes were witnessed at the constituency office, where people gathered to congratulate Kohli and celebrate his selection as the party’s candidate.
The announcement has brought a fresh wave of enthusiasm among his supporters as Jalandhar Central looks ahead to the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
