In district council and panchayat elections combined, AAP crossed 1,200 seats early in counting. The party secured over 50 percent seats in district council results declared so far. Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal managed around 20 percent seats each. The Bharatiya Janata Party remained far behind.

AAP also dominated the panchayat polls. The party won nearly 1,000 of the 2,486 contested seats. By Thursday evening, results for 2,697 of 2,838 panchayat committee zones were declared. AAP won 1,494 zones. Congress followed with 567 seats. Akali Dal secured 390 zones. BJP won only 75 zones. BSP claimed 28 seats. Independent candidates won 143 zones.

In district council elections, AAP won 206 seats out of 322 declared. Congress secured 60 seats. Akali Dal won 39 seats. BJP managed just four seats. BSP won three seats. Others took ten seats. AAP candidates also won unopposed on 22 seats.

The results underline AAP’s growing grassroots strength in Punjab. Opposition parties now face serious challenges ahead.

The post Punjab Local Body Elections: AAP Crosses 1,700, Congress Content, Akali-BJP Lag appeared first on India Podcast.

Top state leaders, including PCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa, MP Sukhjinder Randhawa, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, and several MLAs, reached the venue together. Their presence strengthened the perception that Channi’s influence inside the faction-ridden Congress continues to grow, especially as talk of an organisational reshuffle intensifies.

Channi said he felt encouraged to see leaders joining him on a personal request. He added that unity will shape Punjab’s politics in the coming months. Warring echoed the sentiment and said the gathering showed that Congress leaders can stand together when needed. Bajwa also stressed that the party remains focused on Punjab’s welfare.

Several insiders admitted that the gathering signalled Channi’s rising stature. They also noted that he remains a strong contender for the Punjab Congress chief post. As the state looks toward the 2027 Assembly elections, many leaders believe this show of unity may help reduce internal friction.

The post Channi Asserts Leadership Amid Congress Reshuffle Buzz appeared first on India Podcast.

He said the Centre had already clarified its stand through an official tweet. The tweet stated that the government would not introduce any Bill related to Chandigarh in the winter session of Parliament. Even then, AAP and other opposition parties continued to spread fear and confusion. Sharma said they tried to target the BJP for political advantage.

Sharma also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for consistently supporting Punjab. He said Modi protected the rights of Punjabis at every stage. However, he claimed that AAP, Congress and SAD ignored these efforts and created false stories to attack the BJP. According to him, these parties lacked a real plan for Punjab’s future.

Sharma criticised the AAP government for failing to deliver on its promises. He said Punjab still faced serious issues such as gangsterism, illegal mining and slow compensation for flood-hit families. Instead of solving these problems, he said, AAP focused on blaming the BJP to distract people from its failures.

Sharma urged the public to stay alert and check the facts. He said the current campaign by the Opposition aimed to mislead Punjab. He called it a planned effort to create doubt and build unnecessary tension. Sharma appealed to all citizens to reject misinformation and support politics that prioritises development and stability.

The post Opposition Parties Spreading Propaganda for Political Gains: BJP Leader appeared first on India Podcast.

The move comes amid a growing row over the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). A mystery surrounds the Rs 12,128 crore said to be available in the fund. Opposition parties, including Congress, BJP, and SAD, have demanded a central probe into the alleged misuse. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while announcing a Rs 1,600 crore package during his Punjab visit, also flagged the SDRF issue.

Among the listed panchayats, Patiala’s Shambhu Kalan has the highest reserve with Rs 79.38 crore in fixed deposits, followed by Behlolpur in Mohali at Rs 43.50 crore. Others like Dararhi and Sural Kalan also hold significant amounts. Rural Development Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond appealed to such panchayats to support flood-hit villages.

Finance Minister Harpal Cheema countered opposition charges, stating Punjab has received only Rs 1,582 crore since March 2022, out of which Rs 649 crore has been used. He clarified that the Rs 12,128 crore figure includes high-interest borrowing costs.

The post Punjab Panchayats Asked to Share Funds for Flood Relief appeared first on India Podcast.

Modi assured that orphaned children would be supported under PM CARES for Children. Damaged homes will be rebuilt under PM Awas Yojana-Gramin, and schools will be restored through Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. Despite this, the AAP government had demanded Rs 20,000 crore immediate relief, citing massive destruction and pending dues worth Rs 60,000 crore.

Opposition parties and farmer organisations rejected the relief, calling it “meagre” and a “cruel joke”. Congress leader Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the aid was a “drop in the ocean”. AAP’s Aman Arora termed it an “insult” to Punjab’s contribution to food security and national defence. Farmer unions demanded a Rs 1 lakh crore package, loan waivers, and long-term support.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including Ravneet Singh Bittu and Sunil Jakhar, accompanied Modi during the visit and engaged with flood victims.

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