The Aam Aadmi Party has emerged as the biggest winner in Punjab’s Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections. The ruling party secured around 50 percent of the total seats, strengthening its grip on rural governance. Vote counting began on Wednesday at 154 centres and continues in several districts.
Punjab voted to elect members for 2,838 Panchayat Samiti zones and 347 Zila Parishad zones. By late evening, AAP had taken a clear lead. The party won 1,033 Panchayat Samiti seats, while Congress secured 273 seats. The Shiromani Akali Dal won 176 seats, and the BJP managed only 27. Others won 67 seats.
In Zila Parishad results declared so far, AAP won 68 seats. Congress secured 13 seats, SAD won two, BJP one, and others two seats. Final results are expected by Thursday afternoon.
The elections brought mixed outcomes for senior leaders. AAP candidates lost in villages linked to Cabinet ministers and the Assembly Speaker. In contrast, SAD-backed candidates won in some politically significant villages.
AAP state president Aman Arora said the results reflect public trust in the government’s policies. Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused AAP of misusing official machinery. Allegations of recount demands and poll pressure surfaced from multiple parties during counting.
