The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Punjab, secured a decisive victory in the state's municipal elections, winning over 950 wards, which accounts for 50 percent of the total. The results, announced on Friday, covered eight municipal corporations. AAP emerged victorious in five of them: Mohali, Bathinda, Barnala, Moga, and Batala. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won in Abohar and Pathankot, while the Congress secured Kapurthala.
Performance of Major Parties
The Congress finished a distant second with 390 wards, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with 191 wards, and the BJP with 170 wards. Notably, independent candidates won 251 wards, making them the third-largest group in terms of ward victories. AAP's success in these local body polls comes with just nine months remaining before the next state assembly elections.
Reactions from Leaders
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the victory, stating, "This is the victory of free electricity, Aam Aadmi Clinics, good schools, and transparency in jobs. Punjab has defeated divisive politics." AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also commented, saying, "People of Punjab have applauded the work of Bhagwant Mann's government and swept out the 'ED Party'."
Detailed Results
Except for Mohali, where AAP secured a narrow victory, the party won comprehensively in the other four municipal corporations. The BJP won the municipal corporations in Abohar and Pathankot, while the Congress clinched Kapurthala. The SAD, which is attempting to revive its political fortunes after heavy defeats in the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections, managed to win in segments of the Bathinda district hinterland but secured only three out of 50 wards in the corporation.
Implications for BJP and Congress
The BJP's performance is likely to cause concern within the party leadership, especially as it aggressively seeks to expand its footprint beyond urban areas. In Barnala corporation, the hometown of the new state BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon, the party could win only six out of 50 wards. Congress state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring congratulated party workers for what he described as a "brave fight" and accused AAP of intimidating opposition candidates.
