Punjab’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a setback in the local urban body elections, failing to reach a four-digit figure, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to secure Mayor and Chairman positions in multiple municipal bodies, as per BJP leader Amit Malviya. The counting of votes commenced under tight security measures after polling on May 26 with 7,555 candidates vying for positions in various Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats across the state. Notably, the ruling AAP had 1,801 candidates in the running, followed by Congress with 1,550, BJP with 1,316, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with 1,251 contestants.
Malviya, the BJP’s National Executive member and IT department head, highlighted the significance of the election trends in Punjab over the past decade, noting that this is the first time in 11 years that the ruling party failed to surpass the 1,000-seat mark in local body elections. He also mentioned allegations raised by the Opposition during the campaign, emphasizing the dynamics of the political landscape. In a detailed breakdown, Malviya pointed out the varying victories of different parties in previous elections, showcasing the evolving political scenario in the region.
The BJP leader further elaborated on the recent election results, indicating that AAP secured 945 seats, Congress 380, SAD 191, BJP 169, BSP 7, and Independents 249 out of the declared 1,977 seats. He underscored the challenges faced by the Opposition candidates, including rejected nominations and instances of uncontested wins, along with accusations of misconduct and intimidation during the electoral process. Malviya critiqued the performance of AAP and Congress while praising BJP’s independent success in the elections, showcasing a significant increase in ward wins over the years.
