AAP storms Punjab civic polls as Congress trails and BJP pockets gains

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party registered a sweeping performance in Punjab’s urban local body elections, with results declared for most wards across 102 municipal bodies showing it well ahead of the opposition.

The polls, held on May 26 across eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayats, were seen as a political test ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.

Turnout stood at 63.94 per cent, with 7,554 candidates in the fray.

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The numbers make their case

By the time the latest counts were filed, AAP had won 957 of the 1,963 wards declared, leaving it comfortably ahead of the Congress, which secured 397.

Independents won 251 wards, the Shiromani Akali Dal 191, the BJP 167 and the BSP seven, with a few results still pending.

The tally continued to move as counting progressed late into Friday night.

Across the town halls, a clear refrain

AAP also led in five of the eight municipal corporations — Mohali, Barnala, Batala, Moga and Bathinda — while the Congress scored a significant win in Kapurthala and the BJP captured Abohar.

In Pathankot, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party, even though it did not secure outright control. AAP won 36 of Barnala’s 50 wards, while the Congress led in Pathankot with 10 seats, ahead of the BJP on nine and AAP on five.

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As the applause rises, so do the objections

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann described the outcome as a reflection of public support for his government and tied it to the next Assembly election.

“People of Punjab have shown immense faith in us and all the opposition parties have been rejected. We can see the results of the 2027 Assembly polls through this,” he said.

Opposition parties, meanwhile, alleged irregularities during counting and accused the ruling party of misusing official machinery, claims AAP rejected as the results continued to come in.