AAP Dominates Punjab Civic Polls; Congress Distant Second
AAP leads across Punjab in civic body elections, with Congress trailing.
Top Summary
- What happened: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has emerged as the leading party in Punjab's municipal elections, securing victories and leads across various cities and councils.
- Why it matters: These elections are seen as a crucial litmus test for AAP's governance ahead of the upcoming assembly polls next year.
- What changes for people: The results will determine the composition of local governing bodies, impacting civic services and development projects.
- Who is affected: Residents of Punjab's municipalities, as well as all major political parties, are affected by the outcome.
AAP Sweeps Across Punjab
The Aam Aadmi Party is showing strong performance across Punjab in the 2026 civic body elections. Counting began at 8 AM, with an overall voter turnout of 63.94 percent.
Initial results show AAP leading or winning in key areas, including Mohali, Barnala, and Bathinda.
Key Victories and Leads
AAP has secured a majority in Arniwala Nagar Panchayat in Jalalabad, winning 6 wards. The Congress and SAD secured 6 and 1 respectively, while the BJP failed to open its account.
In Mohali, AAP is maintaining a lead, securing 9 wards. This is followed by INC with 3 wards, SAD with 1 ward and an Independent candidate with 1 ward.
Congress Fares Second Best
While AAP dominates, Congress is putting up a fight in some areas. They lead in Kapurthala with 22 seats.
Congress also leads in Pathankot with 5 seats, compared to AAP's 3 and BJP's 1.
Neck-and-Neck Battles
The competition is tight in some areas. In Sangrur's Bhawanigarh, AAP and Congress are neck-and-neck, leading in 7 wards each.
SAD is leading in 1 ward in Bhawanigarh.
Regional Strongholds
AAP's success extends to various regions. They have won 6 wards in Moga, with one going to an independent.
The party has also won 5 wards in Bathinda, a SAD bastion. BJP and Congress have won 1 each, while an Independent was also declared the winner.
Accusations and Controversies
The opposition has accused the AAP government of misusing official machinery during the elections. These accusations raise concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.
Dhuri witnessed drama after a former officer on duty to CM Bhagwant Mann, Onkar Singh (BJP), was detained for campaigning during silent hours, prompting protests.
Updated Tally
As of 12:07 PM IST, the updated tally shows:
- AAP: 220
- Congress: 90
- SAD: 75
- BJP: 20
- Others: 89
Ludhiana District Update
AAP is leading with 34 seats out of 108 seats in six Municipal councils in Ludhiana district. These include Khanna, Doraha, Payal, Samrala, Jagraon and Raikot.
Congress won 19 seats, and Shiromani Akali Dal won 7. BJP managed to get only 1 seat from Samrala. Independent candidates won 3 seats.
BJP Struggles to Gain Ground
The BJP is struggling to make significant inroads in these elections. They are tied with AAP in Abohar, with 6 wards each.
As of 9:22 AM IST, the BJP had yet to open its account in many areas.
Uncontested Victories
Prior to the elections, 80 candidates were elected unopposed across municipalities and corporations.
AAP had 4 candidates declared unopposed in Patiala and 10 in Amritsar.
What to Watch Next
The focus will now shift to the final vote tallies and the formation of the new municipal bodies. Keep an eye on post-election developments, including any potential challenges or alliances that may emerge.