AAP Wins Punjab Civic Polls, But Opposition Retains Ground
Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann speaks to reporters after the local body election results. (Image AAP Punjab on X.)
By AMIT KUMAR
AAP is set to win over 1,000 wards in Punjab local body elections 2026, but Congress and BJP have retained substantial support ahead of next year’s Assembly polls.
Chandigarh, May 29, 2026 — The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is on course to win over 1000 wards in the local body elections in Punjab per latest state election commission trend updates. The ballot paper-based elections have been dubbed as a semi-final for the next year’s Assembly elections. But trends show that the AAP may not be fully in command of the Punjab politics.
While the AAP is winning over 50 per cent of the wards in Punjab local body elections, the trends in the past indicate that the ruling parties have always won big. The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had won big in local body elections but lost the subsequent Assembly elections. That trend may water down the enthusiasm of the AAP.
Yet Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann told reporters that the people in the state have affirmed their faith in the AAP. The party workers celebrated the results.
Political observers, however, believe that the Punjab local body elections have shown hopes for the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress won over 350 wards. The BJP has won over 130 wards. The others have also taken substantial number of wards. Observers claim that the AAP may have to worry other parties winning almost 45 percent of the wards in Punjab.
The municipal corporation elections in Punjab were marred by controversies. The first was the decision to hold the elections through ballot boxes and not the EVMs. The matter had reached the apex court, which had refused to interfere. Besides, the Opposition parties had accused the Punjab administration of roadblocks in filing of the nomination papers by candidates from non-AAP outfits.
The BJP, which recently got a shot in the arms after seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs joined the party, has got a boost by winning over 130 wards. Punjab has frustrated the BJP in the past despite the party making several experiments. The BJP’s performance is almost at par with that of the SAD. This may make a future alliance talks interesting.
The performance of the Congress also is seen as a booster for the party. Observers believe that the Congress has shown strength at the grassroots level.
With Punjab setting up for four-cornered contest next year for the Assembly elections, the AAP leaders believe that the split of the anti-incumbency votes may help the party retain power in the state.
पंजाब चुनाव 2027: क्या BJP कर पाएगी उलटफेर या AAP रहेगी मजबूत?
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