In 2022, a year after winning Punjab urban local body polls, the Congress as the ruling party lost badly to the Aam Aadmi Party in the state Assembly elections. Four years later, the AAP government has now similarly prevailed in the recent civic polls. The outcome is seen as a test of the Bhagwant Mann administration and a signal ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Punjab urban local body results declared on May 29 gave the AAP control of five of eight municipal corporations, 39 of 75 municipal councils and nine of 20 nagar panchayats. Still, the party must note solid showings by the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal in several towns.
Of the eight municipal corporations, the AAP lost majorities in Abohar, Kapurthala and Pathankot. The Congress took Kapurthala while the BJP secured Abohar and finished first in Pathankot. The AAP won outright in Barnala, Batala, Bathinda, Moga and Mohali.
In the 2022 Assembly elections the AAP had dominated the segments covering these corporations. By the 2024 Lok Sabha polls its support had dropped sharply in the same areas. The 2026 civic results therefore mark a rebound for the AAP in five corporations, yet the three losses remain a concern.
In Abohar the BJP kept its strong 2024 performance. In Pathankot it again led the field. The Congress held a clear edge in Kapurthala. The AAP trailed both rivals in these three places across recent votes.
Across 75 municipal councils the AAP captured 654 of 1,331 wards and majorities in 39 councils. The Congress took 277 wards and four majorities, the SAD 113 wards and one majority, and the BJP 103 wards and one majority. Twenty-three councils produced hung houses and seven went to Independents.
These wards span 60 Assembly segments. The AAP won a majority of wards in 32 of them. It had carried 26 of those segments in 2022 and led in 16 during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
