The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demonstrated its popularity with a resounding performance in the recently concluded Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Punjab. Following the voting on December 14th and the results declared on December 17th and 18th, AAP has established its dominance in rural Punjab. In these elections, held for 347 zones of 22 Zila Parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 Panchayat Samitis, AAP won nearly 70 percent of the seats. Of the 317 declared Zila Parishad seats, AAP won 201 seats (approximately 63%), while Congress won 60, Shiromani Akali Dal 39, and BJP only 4. This victory reflects the Bhagwant Mann government’s strong grassroots presence and development work.
At a joint press conference in Mohali on December 19, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal expressed gratitude to the people of the state for this historic victory, stating that it was a testament to the public’s faith in the government’s honest and transparent functioning. Kejriwal stated that when elections are conducted fairly, the public gives their verdict clearly. Victory in 22 seats in Hoshiarpur, 19 seats each in Amritsar and Patiala, 17 seats each in Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur, and 15 seats in Sangrur demonstrated AAP’s strength in all districts.
Proving the fairness of the elections, Kejriwal shared key statistics. He stated that across Punjab, there were 580 seats won by a margin of less than 100 votes. Of these, AAP won only 261 seats, while the opposition won 319. Citing specific examples, he said that Congress won by just 5 votes in the Phagwala zone of Sangrur district, by 41 votes in the Kot Bhai zone of Sri Muktsar Sahib, and by a mere 3 votes in the Lakhanpur ward of Fatehgarh Sahib. Kejriwal said, “If the government machinery had been misused, these 319 seats could have been ours with just one phone call. We did not do that because we wanted to know the real opinion of the public.”
Various welfare schemes implemented by the Punjab government in rural areas also played a significant role in this victory. The free electricity scheme, which provides up to 300 units of electricity per month, has provided great relief to rural families. Furthermore, the Mohalla Clinic scheme, improvements in government schools, the government’s active role in ensuring farmers get timely and fair prices for their crops, road construction, drinking water facilities, and a strong campaign against drug abuse have all influenced rural voters. Approximately 13.6 million voters participated in these elections, and the voting was completely peaceful.
Opposition parties, particularly the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, alleged misuse of government machinery and rigging in the elections, although the opposition’s narrow victory margins proved these allegations baseless. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP government had “stolen” the elections, but according to the State Election Commission, voting and counting were conducted in a completely fair manner. The opposition performed well in some areas, such as the Congress in Chamkaur Sahib in Ropar district, the Akali Dal winning 13 seats in Bathinda, and the BJP winning 4 seats in Pathankot.
Political experts say this victory will prove to be a major morale booster for the AAP government ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. The party’s strong hold in rural areas could also benefit the AAP in the assembly elections. Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti bodies play a crucial role in rural administration, development planning, and the implementation of welfare schemes at the district and block levels. AAP’s Punjab President, Aman Arora, stated that nearly 85 percent of the declared Zila Parishad results went in AAP’s favor, which clearly demonstrates the public’s confidence in the party’s policies and leadership.
The Aam Aadmi Party’s landslide victory in the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Punjab not only reflects the government’s popularity but also reinforces public confidence in a fair and transparent electoral process. Winning nearly 70 percent of the seats and the opposition’s high victory in narrow-margin constituencies proves that when the government works in the public interest and the elections are fair, the public gives its verdict clearly. This victory marks a new chapter for the AAP government in Punjab and is seen as a positive sign for the state’s overall development in the future.
