AAP wins 958 of 1,977 wards in Punjab municipal elections

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has secured a decisive victory in Punjab's municipal elections, winning a majority of wards and consolidating its control over urban local bodies ahead of next year's state assembly polls. According to final data from the Punjab State Election Commission, the AAP won 958 of the 1,977 wards contested, representing nearly half of all municipal seats. The Congress finished second with 397 wards, while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won 191 and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 172. Independent candidates secured 251 wards.

The elections, held on May 26 using ballot papers, covered eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils, and 19 nagar panchayats. A voter turnout of 63.94 percent was recorded, with 7,554 candidates contesting and 80 elected unopposed. Counting commenced on Friday under tight security arrangements.

The AAP won five of the eight municipal corporations, securing decisive victories in Moga, Barnala, Bathinda, and Batala, and emerged as the single largest party in Mohali. The Congress secured a dominant position in Kapurthala, winning 31 of 50 wards, while the BJP became the single largest party in Pathankot and Abohar. The results...