The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged as the clear frontrunner in the Punjab rural local body elections on Wednesday, as counting of votes for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls continued across the state. Early trends and declared results indicated a decisive lead for the ruling party, strengthening its grassroots hold just three years after forming the government in Punjab.
According to official tallies and media reports, results for 675 of the total 2,838 Panchayat Samiti seats had been declared by Wednesday evening. AAP secured a commanding lead by winning 442 seats, while the Congress trailed with 116 seats. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won 64 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed five, and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) secured three seats. Independent candidates won 42 seats.
The strong showing by AAP was particularly visible in districts such as Sangrur, Patiala, Kapurthala and Ludhiana, indicating widespread rural support for the ruling party’s governance agenda.
Zila Parishad Trends Favour Ruling Party
In the Zila Parishad elections, results for 38 of the 347 seats were declared initially, with AAP winning 28 seats. The Congress managed six seats, while SAD secured four. In Ludhiana alone, AAP led on 10 of the 25 Zila Parishad seats, narrowly ahead of the Congress.
Pathankot’s Bhota block also reflected AAP’s dominance, where the party won 18 of the 23 block committee seats. The Congress secured four seats, while the BJP won one.
Mixed Results in Key Constituencies
While AAP enjoyed broad success, the opposition registered wins in select pockets. SAD candidate Bibi Daljit Kaur Bhakna won the Zila Parishad Khalsa zone seat from Attari by a margin exceeding 2,500 votes. In Mehal Kalan block, SAD’s Jaswinder Kaur defeated AAP candidate Swarnjit Kaur.
In Ferozepur, a group led by former gangster-turned-social worker Gurpreet Sekhon won two seats, with his wife Mandeep Kaur Sekhon and Kuljeet Kaur Sekhon securing victories by large margins.
Strong Showing in CM’s Home Turf
AAP also performed well in Sangrur, the home district of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The party won the Chhajli block Samiti seat, which includes the Chief Minister’s native village Satoj. AAP candidates also led in several Sangrur block and Zila Parishad seats, reinforcing the party’s dominance in the region.
Security Tight, Allegations Surface
Authorities deployed extensive security arrangements at counting centres across Punjab to ensure peaceful proceedings. Patiala SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal confirmed that elaborate measures were in place to prevent any untoward incidents.
However, the counting process was not free from controversy. SAD workers in Patiala alleged they were denied entry to a counting centre, while the Congress and SAD accused the ruling party of electoral malpractices during polling. The AAP government has denied the allegations.
Political Significance Ahead
The rural local body elections are seen as a crucial indicator of grassroots sentiment ahead of future electoral battles in Punjab. AAP’s strong performance is expected to boost the party’s confidence, while the Congress and SAD face the challenge of rebuilding their rural base.
Counting is still underway in several districts, and the final results are awaited. However, early trends suggest that AAP has consolidated its position in Punjab’s rural political landscape.