Arvind Kejriwal, chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), thanked the people of Punjab following the party's victory in state local-body elections.
The results serve as a critical barometer of public support for the current state administration. By securing a large majority of wards, AAP aims to consolidate its grip on local governance and validate its policy direction in the region.
Voting took place on May 26, 2026, across 102 civic bodies [1]. While reports on the final tally vary, some data indicates AAP won 862 wards out of 1,765 counted [1]. Other reports suggest the party secured 698 wards [2] or over 690 wards [3], representing over 48% of municipal wards [4].
In contrast to AAP's performance, the Congress party won 348 seats [1], while independent candidates secured 242 wards [1]. The total number of wards that went to polls is reported as 1,977 [1], though other records list the contested total as 1,897 [3].
Kejriwal said the result was a "Zabardast jeet" [2]. He used the victory to target political opponents, specifically referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party as the "ED party" — a reference to the Enforcement Directorate.
"ED party wiped out," Kejriwal said [2].
He said the people of Punjab have applauded Bhagwant Mann Govt's work and swept out the "ED party" [5]. The victory suggests a continued alignment between the party's leadership and the local electorate during this counting period.
“"Zabardast jeet"”
The victory in the municipal elections strengthens the Aam Aadmi Party's mandate in Punjab, suggesting that the Bhagwant Mann government maintains significant grassroots support. By framing the win as a defeat for the "ED party," Kejriwal is linking local electoral success to a broader national narrative of political persecution, potentially using these results to challenge the BJP's influence in the state.
