Congress scores big in Punjab Municipal election amid protest

CHANDIGARH: On Wednesday, February 17, Congress won 1,399 wards from a total of 2,165 in the civic body elections and won six out of eight municipal corporations. The election results have provided a big boost for Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh as the election is being considered as a ‘semi-final’ to the assembly polls due early next year.

Following the split from the long-time ally Akali Dal, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost even strongholds like Pathankot, Sujanpur, Batala and Abohar. The BJP has won only 49 wards amid the widespread support in Punjab for farmers protesting against the new farm laws passed by the Government of India. The Independents, who have grasped 329 wards in total, have finished second on the table after Congress.

Over 70 per cent of the electorate turned up to vote on Sunday, February 14, and the outcomes are significant due to the ongoing farmers protest. It shows that the anger against the farm laws continues to pinch the Akali Dal despite it severing its ties from the BJP and giving up the positions in union cabinet. The State Election Commission has ordered re-polling in two booths of the SAS Nagar municipal corporation after there were complaints of irregularities during voting.