AAP leads Punjab civic polls 2025: 178 wards won in early count trends
Synopsis
AAP is on course for a commanding sweep of Punjab's Urban Local Body elections, leading in 178 wards by 11 am on counting day — more than triple the combined tally of Congress and SAD. With Assembly elections due in early 2027, the result is shaping up as a powerful early signal of the party's hold on urban Punjab, even as polling day violence and booth-capturing allegations cast a shadow over the process.
Key Takeaways
AAP leads with 178 wards won in early count trends by 11 am on 29 May 2025 .
Congress and SAD are neck-to-neck at 58 and 53 wards respectively.
Polls covered 1,897 wards across 102 civic bodies in Punjab, with a turnout of 63.94 per cent .
A total of 7,554 candidates contested; AAP fielded the most at 1,801 .
Polling day saw clashes and booth-capturing allegations in Raikot , Barnala , and Gidderbaha .
Results are seen as a bellwether for Punjab Assembly elections due in early 2027 .
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the ruling party in Punjab, has surged ahead in early vote count trends for the state's Urban Local Body (ULB) elections on 29 May 2025, having won 178 wards by 11 am. The main opposition Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are running neck-to-neck, with tallies of 58 and 53 wards respectively.
Scale of the Election
Punjab went to the polls on 26 May 2025 to elect representatives across 102 civic bodies — comprising eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils, and 19 nagar panchayats. The exercise covered 1,897 wards and drew a voter turnout of 63.94 per cent, with a total of 7,554 candidates contesting across all urban local bodies.
The eight municipal corporations are located in Abohar, Mohali, Moga, Bathinda, Barnala, Batala, Kapurthala, and Pathankot. Nagar panchayats recorded the highest voter turnout at 76.18 per cent, followed by municipal councils at 65.06 per cent and municipal corporations at 59.91 per cent.
Voter Turnout by Body Type
According to the state Election Commission, municipal corporations accounted for 10.71 lakh electors, of whom 6.41 lakh cast their votes. Municipal councils had the largest electorate at over 22.87 lakh voters, with nearly 14.88 lakh votes cast. In nagar panchayats, over 1.07 lakh votes were recorded out of 1.41 lakh electors.
Candidate Breakdown by Party
Of the total candidates in the fray, 1,801 belong to the AAP, 1,550 to the Congress, 1,316 to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 1,251 to the SAD, and 96 to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). A further 1,528 candidates are contesting as independents and 13 represent other parties.
Violence and Allegations on Polling Day
Polling day on 26 May was marred by clashes involving supporters of multiple parties and allegations of booth capturing at several locations. In Raikot, Congress candidate from Ward 4, Jagdev Singh Jagga, was allegedly attacked with sharp-edged weapons by a group of men. In Barnala, the husband of BJP candidate Deepinder Kaur from Ward 15 was allegedly assaulted after objecting to suspected bogus voting.
Clashes were also reported in Gidderbaha in Muktsar district, where AAP and SAD supporters confronted each other during polling in Wards 18 and 19. State Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Congress legislator Partap Singh Bajwa condemned the incidents and criticised the AAP government over the law and order situation in the state.
Political Stakes
These civic polls are widely seen as a litmus test for the AAP government in Punjab, coming ahead of the state Assembly elections slated for early 2027. A strong performance in urban bodies would reinforce the party's grip on the state, while a narrower margin could embolden the Congress-SAD combine heading into the legislative contest. The final count is expected to clarify the full picture by end of day.
Point of View
But the margin will matter more than the headline number. The party swept to power in 2022 on a wave of anti-incumbency, yet urban local bodies — closer to daily civic grievances — are a harder test of governance delivery than state-level sentiment. The near-parity between Congress and SAD is telling: the traditional vote has not consolidated behind either, which keeps both in a weakened position ahead of 2027. More concerning is the pattern of polling-day violence; if the AAP government cannot ensure clean elections in its own civic contests, the law-and-order charge will become a durable opposition attack line in the Assembly campaign.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Punjab Urban Local Body election results 2025?
As of early count trends on 29 May 2025, AAP has won 178 wards, Congress 58, and SAD 53. Final results are expected by end of day across 1,897 wards in 102 civic bodies.
When did Punjab hold its Urban Local Body elections?
Punjab held ULB elections on 26 May 2025, covering 102 civic bodies including eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils, and 19 nagar panchayats. Counting began on 29 May 2025.
What was the voter turnout in Punjab civic polls 2025?
Overall voter turnout stood at 63.94 per cent. Nagar panchayats recorded the highest turnout at 76.18 per cent, followed by municipal councils at 65.06 per cent and municipal corporations at 59.91 per cent.
Why are the Punjab civic polls politically significant?
The elections are seen as a litmus test for the AAP government ahead of Punjab Assembly elections slated for early 2027. A strong urban performance would consolidate AAP's position, while a weak showing could energise the Congress-SAD opposition.
What violence was reported during Punjab ULB polling?
Clashes between party supporters and allegations of booth capturing were reported at several locations on 26 May. Congress candidate Jagdev Singh Jagga was allegedly attacked in Raikot, and the husband of BJP candidate Deepinder Kaur was allegedly assaulted in Barnala. Confrontations between AAP and SAD supporters were also reported in Gidderbaha, Muktsar district.
