AAP sweeps Punjab civic polls, secures nearly half of all wards; BJP pushed to fifth place

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) registered a commanding victory in Punjab’s civic elections on Friday, winning nearly half of all municipal wards across the state and consolidating its political dominance ahead of future electoral contests.

According to results released by the Punjab State Election Commission, AAP secured 957 of the 1,977 wards that went to polls, accounting for more than 48% of the total seats. The Indian National Congress (Congress) finished a distant second with 397 wards, while Independents emerged as a significant force by winning 251 seats.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won 191 wards, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed 167 wards, placing it fifth in the overall tally. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) secured seven wards.

The victory sparked celebrations among AAP workers across Punjab, with supporters gathering at party offices, dancing to the beat of dhols and distributing sweets.

Kejriwal, Mann hail verdict

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal thanked voters for their support and took a veiled swipe at the BJP, referring to it as the “ED party” in an apparent reference to central investigative agencies.

“The ED party has been wiped out. The ED party, which harassed people by conducting so many raids on small traders in Punjab, has today been avenged by the people,” Kejriwal said after the results.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also welcomed the outcome, describing it as a rejection of divisive politics.

“The politics of hatred has been defeated,” Mann said, attributing the party’s success to public support for its governance agenda.

Results across the state

The civic elections covered 102 municipal bodies, including eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayats. Voting was held on May 26 for 1,897 wards, while candidates in 80 wards were elected unopposed.

The eight municipal corporations where polling was conducted include Mohali, Bathinda, Abohar, Barnala, Kapurthala, Moga, Batala and Pathankot.

While final corporation-wise results were still being compiled, AAP established a strong lead in several urban centres and municipal bodies.

Breakthrough in Pathankot, dominance in Mohali

One of the notable outcomes came from Pathankot, traditionally regarded as a BJP stronghold. AAP won 23 of the city’s 50 wards, while Congress secured 12 and the BJP was reduced to eight seats.

In Sangrur district, AAP recorded decisive victories across the municipalities of Sunam, Dhuri, Bhawanigarh and Longowal, building unassailable leads in a majority of wards.

The party also delivered a strong performance in the Mohali Municipal Corporation, where it secured more than 20 of the 35 declared seats in the 50-member civic House, cementing its influence in one of Punjab’s fastest-growing urban centres.

The results are expected to strengthen AAP’s position in Punjab, where it already holds power in the state government, while posing fresh challenges for opposition parties seeking to regain political ground.