The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has solidified its position as the dominant political force in Punjab's Doaba region, securing sweeping victories in three key districts during the recent zila parishad and block samiti elections. The Congress party, however, managed to hold its ground firmly in the Nawanshahr district, preventing a complete AAP clean sweep in the area.
Decisive Victory Across Doaba
Elections for the 22 zila parishads and 153 panchayat samitis across Punjab were conducted on December 14, with the counting of votes taking place on Thursday. In the politically significant Doaba region, comprising four districts, voters decided the fate of candidates in 66 zila parishad zones and 566 block samiti zones.
The AAP's performance was particularly commanding in the zila parishad polls, where it won 41 out of the 66 zones. The Congress secured 19 zones, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won three, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) claimed two, and an Independent candidate won one seat.
District-Wise Breakdown of Results
The victory was powered by strong performances in individual districts. In Hoshiarpur, the AAP recorded a landslide, winning 22 of the 25 zila parishad zones, leaving just three for the Congress. For block samitis, the AAP secured 127 of the 191 declared seats, with 16 of those wins being unopposed.
Jalandhar district also saw the AAP emerge as the leading party. It won 10 of the 21 zila parishad seats, followed by the Congress with seven. In the block samiti elections for all 188 zones, the AAP topped with 78 seats.
In Kapurthala, the AAP won five of the ten zila parishad zones. Its dominance was even more pronounced in the block samiti elections, where it secured a staggering 138 of the 88 zones' seats, a figure that includes three unopposed victories and reflects wins across multiple blocks.
Congress Fortress in Nawanshahr
While the AAP celebrated victories across Doaba, the Congress party successfully defended its stronghold in Nawanshahr. In the zila parishad elections there, the Congress won six of the ten zones, with the AAP securing the remaining four. This performance allowed the Congress to maintain a significant presence in the region amidst the AAP wave.
The block samiti results in Nawanshahr further underscored the Congress's resilience. The party won 33 of the 82 seats, narrowly edging out the AAP, which secured 29 seats.
Overall Tally and Allegations
In the overall block samiti elections for Doaba, elections were held for 546 out of 566 seats, with 20 seats decided unanimously. The AAP won a total of 288 block samiti seats, which includes 19 unopposed wins. The Congress secured 158 seats (one unopposed), the SAD won 44, the BSP 28, the BJP 12, and Independent candidates won 36 seats.
The elections were not without controversy. Opposition parties leveled allegations regarding the cancellation of votes in several zones, which they claim resulted in the defeat of a number of their candidates.
The results of these local body polls are seen as a crucial mid-term indicator of political sentiment in Punjab, showcasing the AAP's expanding grassroots influence while highlighting the pockets where traditional parties like the Congress continue to retain voter loyalty.
