What began as a high-voltage political confrontation over criminal cases against two Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leaders turned into a wave of sympathy for the party in the Faridkot Municipal Council election, with the wives of both leaders winning by large margins.
The controversy over police cases against SAD leaders Satish Grover and Anoop Grover, whose wives were contesting the municipal polls, dominated the campaign and triggered a fierce political showdown in Faridkot. The Akali Dal accused the ruling AAP government of misusing the police and district administration to target opposition leaders ahead of the polls.
The issue escalated into a major political agitation, with SAD holding repeated dharnas in Faridkot. The matter gained momentum when SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal arrived in Faridkot to lead protests and mobilise party workers.
As allegations of political vendetta grew, the Akali Dal moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking an impartial electoral process. In a key development, the high court appointed two independent observers to oversee the municipal elections in Faridkot, adding weight to the Opposition’s charges against the state government.
Political observers believe the controversy consolidated anti-AAP sentiment in parts of Faridkot city and energised Akali supporters. The results reflected this shift, with the wives of Satish Grover and Anoop Grover securing decisive victories.
Although the ruling AAP emerged as the single-largest party in the 25-member Faridkot Municipal Council with 10 seats, it fell three seats short of a clear majority. The Congress and SAD won 8 and 7 seats, leaving the civic body fragmented and setting the stage for intense post-poll negotiations.
The results also dealt a setback to former Municipal Council president Narinder Singh Ninda. Ninda, who had led the civic body under the Congress, switched to the AAP after the polls were announced but failed to retain his seat.
The Congress, while unable to capture power, put up a strong performance in Faridkot and remains a key player in local politics.
In the district’s two other key municipal bodies, the AAP performed well. In Jaito, the ruling party retained control of the municipal committee, while in Kotkapura it ousted the Congress to secure a clear majority.
