AAP Leads as Winners Emerge in 675 Punjab Panchayat Samitis
The Punjab Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections have concluded, following a politically intense voting period. The counting of votes commenced at 8 a.m. on December 17, 2025, at 154 centers across 141 locations. Over 9,000 candidates competed for 347 Zila Parishad and 2,838 Panchayat Samiti seats. With the reliance on ballot papers, final results are anticipated late in the evening.
AAP Leads Amid Political Tensions
These local polls are pivotal, occurring just 14 months before the next Assembly elections. Political parties are keen to gain an advantage, each contesting under their respective symbols. However, allegations of electoral misconduct have emerged. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of obstructing their polling agents and manipulating the voting process.
Results Overview
- AAP: 442 seats
- Congress: 116 seats
- SAD: 64 seats
- BJP: 5 seats
- BSP: 3 seats
- CPI (M): 0 seats
- Independents: 42 seats
Allegations of Electoral Malpractice
As counting unfolded, tensions rose. Congress activists blocked the Phagwara-Nakodar road in protest against alleged vote manipulation in the Sahni Zone-4 Block Samiti election. They claimed their candidate, Surinder Kaur, was unfairly defeated by AAP’s Rajinder Kaur following a controversial recount.
In notable developments, SAD candidate Mohinder Singh won the Block Samiti seat in the hometown of Punjab’s Speaker, defeating AAP’s Mukhtiar Singh by 171 votes. Independent candidate Gagandeep Kaur also claimed victory in the Jandali zone of Ahmedgarh Block Samiti. Meanwhile, rebel candidate Manpreet Ayali’s followers were leading in multiple areas.
Region-Specific Trends
| Region | AAP | Congress | SAD | Independents | BJP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludhiana | 38 | 27 | 25 | 12 | 1 |
| Patiala | 35 | 19 | 7 | – | – |
| Sangrur | 56 | 25 | 27 | 33 | – |
Controversies and Claims of Bias
During the count, former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur raised concerns about the presence of current MLA Gurlal Singh Ghanaur in the counting center, alleging he entered without proper authorization while opposition representatives were denied access. Additionally, SAD leaders pointed out that Rahul Saini, son of Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, was also inside the counting center during the procedure.
Opposition parties demanded intervention from election authorities to maintain the integrity of the counting process and to uphold public trust in the electoral system.
As results continue to emerge, the focus remains on the implications these elections hold for the future political landscape in Punjab.
