If previous polling patterns are any indication, the ruling party in Punjab usually wins local body elections. Since the Municipal Corporation elections were held in the same year that the state government came to power, its tenure may have ended almost at the same time.
However, this is the first time in 27 years that local body elections have been held after the state government has completed half its term – the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will complete three years in March 2025.
All the preparations for the civic elections to be held in the state on Saturday have been completed. The Indian Express It looks at the results of previous elections in four major municipal corporations of Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala.
2017-18: Congress back in power
In December 2017, civic elections were held in Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala Municipal Corporations along with some municipal councils in suburban areas. The Congress government came to power in 2014 under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh March 2017 And the party tasted victory in all corporations.
The Congress also won the Ludhiana civic body in the elections held in February 2018. The total number of wards increased to 95 as compared to 75 in 2012. Of these, 62 were won by the Congress and the BJP-Akali Dal alliance. 21 (SAD 11, BJP 10) Lok Insaf Party led by Simarjeet Singh Bains won 7 seats and Aam Aadmi Party 1 seat.
In Jalandhar, the total number of wards increased from 60 in 2012 to 80 in 2017 – with Congress winning 66, SAD-BJP 12 and Independents two.
The Congress’s victory in Patiala was decisive, winning 59 out of 60 wards, while the SAD had to settle for one seat. In 2012, the civic body had only 50 seats. In Amritsar, on the other hand, the Congress won 60 of the 85 wards, while the SAD-BJP won 13 and the AAP four, leaving the rest to independents.
2012: SAD-BJP all the way
In 2012, the SAD-BJP alliance came to power in Punjab for a second consecutive term, continuing its winning streak in civic body elections. The provincial government was formed in March of the same year and the local level elections were held in June.
In Ludhiana, the ruling alliance won 44 out of 75 seats while the Congress managed to win only 17 seats. Jalandhar saw a good contest with SAD-BJP winning 30 wards out of 60 wards while opposition Congress won 22 wards. Independent candidates have won, while People’s Party of Punjab and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have got one seat each. After that, SAD-BJP took the support of independent candidates to get an easy majority in the House.
Amritsar saw a clean sweep by the SAD-BJP where it won 48 out of 65 wards, leaving the Congress with four seats as the Independents bagged 12 wards. Similarly, out of 50 wards in Patiala, the ruling coalition has won in 39 wards, while the Congress has won in eight wards.
2007: SAD-BJP wins power
The SAD-BJP alliance took power in Punjab in March 2007, followed by local body elections in August of the same year.
In the Ludhiana civic polls, the ruling alliance won 42 of the 75 wards, leaving the Congress with 15 seats, while in Jalandhar, the SAD-BJP won 33 of the 60 seats. Congress has won 19 seats while the rest are in the hands of independent candidates.
The SAD-BJP’s victory streak continued in Amritsar where it won 33 of the 65 seats, the Congress 18 and the Independents the rest. Again, Independents supported SAD-BJP for a comfortable majority. In Captain Amarinder Singh’s hometown of Patiala, the ruling alliance won 42 of the 50 seats while the Congress managed to lock four seats while independents took the rest.
2002: Captain Amarinder Singh leads Congress to victory
The Congress government led by Captain Amarinder Singh came to power in March 2002 and the party also won the municipal elections in June that year.
In Ludhiana, the Congress won 37 of the 70 wards, securing a substantial majority, while the Akali Dal-BJP alliance won 21 seats. Independents have won the rest.
In Jalandhar, the ruling party has won 32 out of 55 wards. The SAD-BJP secured nine seats, leaving the rest to independents.
Congress won 33 out of 60 wards in Amritsar and 43 out of 50 wards in Patiala. SAD-BJP had to be satisfied with only seven seats.
What is happening in this year’s local elections?
Although Aam Aadmi Party has upped its game this time, SAD and BJP are contesting separately. In Ludhiana, candidates are in the fray for 95 seats, while the number is 85 each in Jalandhar and Amritsar. Although Aam Aadmi Party had fielded candidates in the previous elections, the candidates could not make much of an impression. This time the situation is very different and it remains to be seen how many seats they will get.
In Patiala, where 60 seats will go to polls, BJP candidates have alleged that the ruling AAP has prevented them from filing nominations. Hence, the party has been able to contest only 29 wards, said BJP Punjab Chief Spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal. Interestingly, prominent BJP leaders here include Captain Amarinder Singh, his wife Praneet Kaur and daughter Jai Inder Kaur. BJP’s Mahila Morcha state unit president Jai Inder Kaur is spearheading the civic poll campaign.
Apart from four major municipalities, 44 municipalities and Phagwara municipality are also voting on Saturday. The result will be announced on the same day.
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