CHANDIGARH, Dec. 22, 2025 — Welfare schemes targeting Punjab’s villages played a key role in the Aam Aadmi Party’s strong showing in the Gram Panchayat elections, where party-supported candidates won 261 seats, party leaders and local representatives said.
The elections, held in 580 villages, saw AAP-backed candidates secure the highest number of wins, with decisive margins in more than half of those seats, according to official figures.
Punjab AAP president called the result “a mandate rooted in expectations being met.”
“This is not just about numbers,” he said. “It reflects people’s belief that development is finally reaching their villages.”
Residents and newly elected sarpanches pointed to free electricity of up to 300 units per month, Mohalla Clinics, upgraded government schools and improved crop procurement as factors influencing voter decisions.
“The pace of development in villages has increased, and panchayats now have more authority,” said a newly elected sarpanch from Sangrur district. “That made a real difference.”
A sarpanch from Jalandhar district said improved health services and power subsidies had eased pressure on low-income families. “People can see the change in their daily lives,” he said.
Farmers also welcomed timely procurement of crops and payments at minimum support prices, an issue that had drawn criticism of earlier administrations.
Officials from the Rural Development Department said turnout was robust and polling remained orderly throughout the state. The government has pledged continued financial and administrative support to elected panchayats.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the government would work closely with the new sarpanches to expand infrastructure, education, health care and employment opportunities in rural Punjab.
“The responsibility now is bigger,” Mann said. “We will stand with village representatives to ensure development reaches every household.”
Analysts said the results reinforce AAP’s rural credibility and could influence political alignments ahead of the next assembly polls.
