AAP's Bhagat fails to make a mark in West Jalandhar, BJP surges

The results of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation (MC) elections, declared on Saturday, came as a shocker as no party managed to secure a majority.

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has been in power in Punjab for over two years, emerged as the frontrunner with 38 seats but fell short of the 43-seat majority mark. This is the first time since the formation of the corporation in 1991 that the ruling party has failed to achieve a majority in the Jalandhar MC elections.

The outcome has sent ripples through the city’s political circles as it signals a challenging road ahead for AAP in the 2027 Assembly elections. While the party is now pulling all strings to garner the necessary support to gain majority, the results have exposed vulnerabilities in its strongholds, raising questions about its grip on urban voters.

The biggest surprise was the impressive performance of the BJP. Contesting solo this time, the BJP secured 19 wards, marking a strong comeback from its earlier tally of 13 when it was in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal. The BJP’s resurgence was most evident in Jalandhar West, where it won eight wards. This was despite AAP’s Mohinder Bhagat, who won the Jalandhar West Assembly bypoll by defeating his nearest rival and BJP nominee Sheetal Angural by a margin of more than 37,000 votes and holds a cabinet berth now, who was expected to dominate.

BJP leaders Sushil Rinku and Sheetal Angural managed to turn the tide in their party’s favour, although Angural’s own brother lost to an AAP candidate in Ward no 58.

In Jalandhar Central, the Congress emerged as the top performer, winning 10 out of 23 wards, thanks to the sustained efforts of former MLA Rajinder Beri, say sources. AAP and the BJP secured nine and four wards, respectively, in the constituency, where the Congress’s ground work proved decisive.

While Jalandhar West and Central revealed cracks in AAP’s armour, the party performed relatively well in Jalandhar Cantt and Jalandhar North, winning eight and 11 wards. The Congress secured the second-highest tally in both constituencies, but the BJP and Independents also made their presence felt.

Despite the efforts of all parties, frustration among voters was evident, with many expressing discontent over unfulfilled promises and the lack of tangible development in their wards. The results reflect not just a fractured mandate, but also a warning signal to all political players in Punjab.

As AAP scrambles to consolidate its position, the results have undoubtedly reshaped the political narrative in Jalandhar, setting the stage for a fiercely contested Assembly race in 2027.