AAP wins 862 wards in Punjab civic polls, leads in 102 bodies
Synopsis
AAP has swept Punjab's municipal elections, winning 862 of 1,765 wards counted across 102 civic bodies — more than double the Congress tally. With assembly polls due in early 2027, the result is a strong mid-term endorsement for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government, and a significant setback for both the Congress and the SAD in their traditional strongholds.
Key Takeaways
AAP won 862 wards across 102 civic bodies in Punjab municipal elections held on 26 May 2025 .
Congress finished second with 348 seats ; Independents third with 242 ; SAD fourth with 169 ; BJP won 138 .
In CM Bhagwant Mann's constituency Dhuri , AAP won 20 of 21 seats .
Overall voter turnout was 63.94 per cent across 1,897 wards , with 7,554 candidates contesting.
Pathankot was the only major corporation where Congress emerged the single largest party with 10 seats .
Results are seen as a litmus test ahead of the Punjab assembly elections in early 2027 .
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Punjab, swept to a commanding lead in the state's municipal elections on 29 May 2025, winning 862 of the 1,765 wards counted so far across 102 civic bodies. The polls, held on 26 May across 1,977 wards in eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils, and 19 nagar panchayats, are widely regarded as a bellwether ahead of the Punjab assembly elections slated for early 2027.
Party-wise Results So Far
The Indian National Congress (Congress) finished second with 348 seats, while Independents claimed 242 wards — outperforming the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which won 169 wards. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 138 seats and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 6 wards.
In Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's home constituency of Dhuri, AAP won 20 of 21 seats — an emphatic local endorsement of the sitting CM.
Corporation-level Breakdown
In the Barnala Municipal Corporation, AAP dominated by winning 36 of 50 wards, with BJP securing seven, Independents five, and Congress two. In Bathinda, AAP took 14 of 21 seats. In Moga, AAP crossed the 29-seat mark — exceeding the 26 councillors needed to elect a Mayor. The Pathankot Municipal Corporation proved the exception, where Congress emerged the single largest party with 10 seats, ahead of BJP's nine and AAP's five in a tightly contested three-way race.
Voter Turnout and Scale
Overall voter turnout stood at 63.94 per cent across 1,897 wards, with 7,554 candidates in the fray. 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. According to the state Election Commission, municipal corporations accounted for 10.71 lakh electors, of whom 6.41 lakh voted. Municipal councils had the largest electorate at over 22.87 lakh voters, with nearly 14.88 lakh votes cast.
What the Parties Said
AAP leader Manish Sisodia thanked voters for reposing faith in party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Mann, saying the people of Punjab had 'replied to the ED party.' He claimed that 1,142 BJP candidates had forfeited their security deposits, adding that 'the politics of betrayal would not succeed in Punjab.'
State Congress President Raja Warring told reporters that the party's performance in the four major municipal corporation contests — Patiala, Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Jalandhar — was 'praiseworthy.' He alleged that AAP had abused power and misused official machinery during the polls, a charge the ruling party has not formally addressed.
Polling Day Incidents
Counting of paper ballots began at 8 am under tight security. Polling day, however, was not without controversy — clashes involving supporters of BJP, Congress, AAP, and SAD were reported, and allegations of booth capturing emerged at several locations. These claims are yet to be independently verified.
With counting still ongoing and assembly polls roughly eighteen months away, the civic results will sharpen the political calculus for all parties in Punjab.
Point of View
Suggesting the traditional Akali vote bank is fragmenting rather than consolidating around a single opposition. The Pathankot outlier, where Congress topped, deserves scrutiny: it may reflect local candidate strength rather than a broader Congress revival. For BJP, 1,142 forfeited deposits — if the claim holds up — would indicate a structural weakness in urban Punjab that no central-government tailwind has been able to fix.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the results of the Punjab municipal elections 2025?
The Aam Aadmi Party led with 862 wards won across 102 civic bodies out of 1,765 counted, followed by Congress with 348 seats, Independents with 242, SAD with 169, and BJP with 138, as of the latest count. Polling was held on 26 May 2025 across 1,977 wards.
Why are the Punjab civic polls considered politically significant?
The municipal elections are seen as a litmus test for the AAP government ahead of the Punjab assembly elections scheduled for early 2027. A strong showing strengthens Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's position, while a weak performance by opposition parties complicates their electoral strategy.
How did AAP perform in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's constituency?
In Dhuri, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's home constituency, AAP won 20 of 21 wards — one of the most decisive local results of the entire election.
Which civic bodies were covered in the Punjab municipal elections?
The elections covered 102 urban local bodies comprising eight municipal corporations — Mohali, Bathinda, Abohar, Barnala, Kapurthala, Moga, Batala, and Pathankot — along with 75 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayats, spanning 1,897 wards in total.
Were there any incidents reported during the Punjab municipal polls?
Yes, clashes involving supporters of BJP, Congress, AAP, and SAD were reported on polling day, and allegations of booth capturing surfaced at several locations. These claims are yet to be independently verified by election authorities.
