In a stunning reversal for one of Adampur’s most influential political dynasties, all five members of the Karwal family lost their respective seats in the Municipal Council (MC) elections. The results, announced this Friday, mark a significant shift in the local power structure.
The 13-ward council saw a dominant performance by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), while the Karwal family — contesting as Independents — faced a total washout. AAP won 10 out of 13 wards, establishing itself as the leading force in the council. The remaining three wards (Nos. 1, 3, and 5) were won by Independent candidates.
Despite contesting under the “tractor” symbol and receiving backing from Congress MLA Sukhwinder Kotli, the family failed to secure a single seat.
The most notable loss was that of Darshan Singh Karwal, a three-time councillor and former MC chief. Darshan Singh Karwal, who was unanimously elected as president of the Adampur MC in 2021, lost his seat to AAP’s Davinder Singh Suri by a margin of nearly 200 votes.
The Karwal family faced a clean sweep by AAP in several wards. Harjinder Singh Karwal, a veteran in local politics, lost Ward No. 13 to AAP’s Amrik Singh, while his wife, Sandeep Kaur Karwal, was defeated by AAP’s Reena in Ward No. 9.
The younger generation fared no better. Parwinder Singh Karwal, nephew of Darshan Singh Karwal, lost Ward No. 11 to Harwinder Singh (AAP) in his electoral debut. Similarly, Darshan Singh’s daughter-in-law, Dr Simran Paul Karwal, fell to AAP’s Kanu in Ward No. 7.
The Karwal family’s longstanding dominance in Adampur’s municipal politics has faced a sudden collapse. Just years after the 2021 elections — where a Darshan Singh Karwal-led sweep secured 12 of the 13 wards — the group failed to win a single seat in this cycle. This shift follows a concerted push by the ruling AAP. Observers note that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s three visits to the area since March likely played a decisive role in eroding the family’s control over the civic body.
In May, CM Mann addressed a public gathering as part of the “Shukrana Yatra,” a campaign launched following the implementation of the state’s Anti-Sacrilege law. This followed the April launch of the high-profile “Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana,” which provides financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 to women.
Earlier in March, the CM held a “Lok Milni” programme and interacted with students at the School of Eminence. Reflecting on AAP’s performance, Pawan Tinu, AAP halka in-charge, noted during a media interaction: “This time, people voted for development and for new faces to bring about change.”
