The ruling Congress appeared keen to sweep polls from local urban bodies in Punjab, leaving Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP far behind, as the results started rolling in on Tuesday. It is the first result of the elections after the agitation of the farmers and the split between SAD and BJP. The poll’s results are also seen in certain quarters as a referendum on farm laws introduced by the Center and a significant indicator of the political headwinds in the state ahead of Assembly elections next year.
In addition to Congress, independents also did very well in the polls, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had launched a strong campaign, performed below expectations.
Performing well in all three Punjab regions, Congress swept away six of the seven municipal corporations in the state. The party won 49 of 50 seats in Abohar, 43 in Bathinda, 41 in Hoshiarpur and 43 in Kapurthala. It also made massive inroads into the BJP-dominated Pathankot, with 37 out of 50 seats. It also did well in Batala, with 35 seats.
Repolling is underway in two districts of the Mohali Municipal Corporation, the results of which will be announced Thursday.
Moga was the only civic body in which Congress did not do very well, with 20 out of 50 seats and 15 SAD.
Patiala: Congressional candidate Baljinder Kaur Rinki celebrates her victory in the municipal elections, in the district of Patiala, on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. (PTI)
State Congress Speaker Sunil Jakhar declined to comment on the results, saying they are still being compiled.
In the municipal councils of Ferozepur and Zira in Malwa, the Congress won all the seats. The usual big game also did very well in the SAD strongholds of Jalalabad, Arinwala and Fazilka. The BJP, which was largely defeated, found some comfort in Fazilka by winning 4 of the 25 seats contested.
The independents did very well in various councils of Mansa.
BJP candidate Pardeep Singla managed to win the Jaitu district despite strident protests from farmers. In Khanna City Council, too, the lotus blossomed in two seats. Congress won a majority in the Khanna, Jagraon, Samrala, Raikot, Doraha, Payal and Sahnewal municipal councils in the Ludhiana district. Except for Nayagaon, the ruling party also reached the majority mark in all Mohali MCs. The party also won handsomely in Sangrur, Barnala and Patiala.
Congressional candidate Udayvir Singh Dhillon celebrates his victory from Zirakpur.
In a major setback for the BJP, it lost its stronghold of Pathankot by a large margin to Congress. Despite having an acting mayor in the district, the saffron party was only able to win 11 seats in the municipal corporation.
In the Majha region, so far, Congress has won 13 local bodies while SAD managed to win two (Majitha and Ajnala). Qadian’s count was still active.
In the Doaba region, which has four districts, including Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr, the main fight was between the ruling Congress and the independents. While Congress won more than 60% of the seats in Doaba, more than 26% of the seats fell into the lap of independents. In Jalandhar and Nawanshahr, Congress followed the independents until the latest reports.
SAD, BJP, AAP and BSP were only able to secure 6%, 2.5%, 3% and 1% seats in the region.
Surveys were carried out for 360 districts in 23 local agencies, including two municipal corporations, in Doaba, the results of which were declared in 358 seats as of this report. Congress won 218 seats, Independents 95, SAD 21, and AAP 11. The BJP and BSP won 9 and 4 districts respectively.
Congress was ahead in the Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts.
In Hoshiarpur, Congress won 101 out of 141 seats in 10 local bodies, while the result was awaited in two districts. The ruling party won 41 of the 50 seats in the Hoshiarpur Corporation and the remainder for the municipal councils and Nagar Panchayats.
SAD and BJP trailed behind in their traditional strongholds the municipal councils of Mukerian, Tanda, Dasuya, Garhdiwal and Hariana and Nagar Panchayats.
In Jalandhar, the independents won 59 of 110 districts in 8 local bodies, while the Congress was only able to administer 47 seats.
In Nawanshahr, out of a total of 47 districts in three local bodies, Congress was able to win 16 seats, while independents won 17. In Nawanshahr, one candidate won by a single vote margin.
AAP performed best in Banga and Dasuya, winning 5 of 15 and 4 of 15 seats, respectively.
(With input from Kamaldeep Brar)
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She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.