CHANDIGARH, MAY 29 — The Aam Aadmi Party made significant gains in the Gidderbaha Municipal Council elections on Friday, establishing early leads in 12 wards and challenging a traditional stronghold of senior Congress leader Raja Warring.
The development emerged as counting began for 103 civic bodies across Punjab, where AAP established itself as the frontrunner in multiple districts. Out of the 13 wards in Gidderbaha, officials declared results for seven segments following the completion of the first round of counting. AAP candidates secured victories in Ward Numbers 2, 4, 6, and 7, while independent contenders claimed the remaining three declared seats in Ward Numbers 1, 3, and 5.
State election officials noted that the massive democratic exercise involved 21.38 lakh voters who cast their ballots to decide the political fate of 7,554 candidates. The counting encompasses eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils, and 19 nagar panchayats. While the ruling party surged ahead, the Indian National Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal lagged in early tallies, and the Bharatiya Janata Party managed wins in only a handful of wards.
“The initial rounds reflect a clear public mandate for governance and local development,” an AAP state representative stated during a press briefing. “Our performance in areas previously considered unassailable demonstrates the growing trust across every section of Punjab.”
Beyond Gidderbaha, the ruling party asserted its dominance across the region, particularly in Ludhiana district segments like Khanna, Samrala, and Doraha. In Khanna, AAP captured 10 wards alongside one uncontested seat. The party also secured three uncontested wards in Samrala, maintaining an active lead in five contested ones.
The opposition found scattered pockets of resistance against the ruling party’s momentum. The Congress showed localized strength in Raikot by leading in five wards, while maintaining minor footprints in Payal and Jagraon. The Shiromani Akali Dal registered its best initial performance in Samrala with a lead in four wards. Overall district tallies placed AAP ahead in 23 wards, followed by the Congress with 15, the Akali Dal with five, and independent candidates with three.
