The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections across Jalandhar district, emerging as the clear frontrunner by securing 49 out of 99 wards. According to results, declared on Friday, the party finished well ahead of its rivals, with Independent candidates finishing second with 22 wards, the Congress 21 and the BJP securing merely three wards.
Reportedly, out of seven local bodies, AAP registered victory in four, including Municipal Councils of Adampur, Kartarpur, Phillaur and Lohian Khas Nagar Panchayat.
In Adampur Municipal Council, AAP delivered a dominant performance by winning 10 of the 13 wards. The remaining three seats were secured by Independent candidates, who contested under a “tractor” symbol and were reportedly backed by Congress MLA Sukhwinder Kotli and other factions.
Notably, in a major political upheaval, AAP defeated all five members of the influential Karwal family, who are known to have a strong hold in Adampur civic body.
In Kartarpur, out of 15 wards, AAP secured nine seats. The Congress won three wards, Independents secured two, while the BJP failed to make any significant impact.
Phillaur also saw AAP securing majority with eight wards, followed by the Congress with three and Independents along with the BSP winning two wards each.
Nakodar recorded a closely contested result in 17 wards, where AAP won seven seats. Independents secured five, Congress four, and the BJP managed to get one seat. Reportedly, among the Independent winners, three were supported by the Congress and one by the BSP.
Notably, Nurmahal remains the only local body where Independent candidates outperformed all major parties, winning eight of the 13 wards. AAP secured four seats, while the BJP managed to win one seat.
However, senior Congress leader Navjot Dahiya said among the eight Independent winners, six were supported by his party and had contested under the ‘table’ symbol, while the remaining two were backed by the BSP.
He explained that in these smaller Municipal Council elections, parties often refrained from contesting under their official symbols. Notably, although Nurmahal had held nine such elections to date, no candidate had ever contested under the Congress “hand” symbol, he said.
The Congress registered its only majority in Mehatpur Nagar Panchayat, winning seven of the 13 wards with AAP, the BJP and Independents securing two wards each.
In Lohian Khas, AAP registered clear victory by winning nine out of 13 wards, while Congress secured the remaining four seats.
According to political observers, these civic polls were seen as a litmus test for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party before the state goes for Assembly elections in 2027.
