It’s AAP vs Cong in Doaba rural bodies elections

Being considered as the semi-finals ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls in Punjab, almost all parties are contesting Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections this time with full vigour.

The election is being largely seen as a direct contest between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress. With SAD facing leadership crisis in areas like Nakodar, Adampur, Sultanpur Lodhi, Bholath, Banga and Balachaur, it may not be in the reckoning of majority of the seats.

The BSP too is engaged in a lot of canvassing, especially in areas like Phillaur, Kartarpur, Adampur, Banga and Phagwara. More gain for the BSP in these areas will imply a loss for the Congress and will give an edge to the ruling AAP.

Amarpreet Lally, Garhshankar-based Congress leader, said, "I am daily addressing eight to nine gatherings of voters in different blocks. The atmosphere is almost charged up like that of an Assembly election. With elections being just five days away, we are wasting no time. We are ensuring the involvement of every worker on the ground. The ruling party leaders have been trying to use all the might to spread build an atmosphere of fear and tension but we shall not let this happen".

Likewise, all Jalandhar-based Congress leaders including Jalandhar Cantt MLAs Pargat Singh, Shahkot MLA Hardev S Laddi Sherowalia, Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Kotli and halqa incharges Dr Navjot Dahiya from Nakodar and Rajinder Singh from Kartarpur too are fully involved in the elections.

In Adampur, the election is being seen as a direct fight between Kotli and AAP's Pawan Tinu. Tinu, who had lost the Parliamentary elections for AAP in May 2024, had got appointed as the halqa incharge for the party in Adampur few months ago and he clearly wants to show his power.

The Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Jalandhar district will have 669 candidates contesting. There are 83 candidates for 21 zones of Zila Parishad and 586 contestants for 188 zones in 11 blocks.

Polling will take place on December 14 from 8 am to 4 pm using ballot papers. The district administration has made arrangements to ensure a peaceful and transparent election process. Vote counting will take place on December 17 from 8 am onwards.

In Jalandhar, 1,209 booths have been set up across the district. In Nakodar, there will be 130 booths for 19 zones. In Mehatpur, there will be 83 booths for 15 zones. In Phillaur, there will 129 booths for 20 zones. In Adampur, there will be 200 booths for 25 zones. In Bhogpur, there will be 108 booths for 15 zones. In Jalandhar East, there will be 86 booths for 15 zones.

In Rurka Kalan, there will be 96 booths for 15 zones. In Jalandhar West, there will be 116 booths for 19 zones. In Nurmahal, there will be 88 booths for 15 zones. In Shahkot, there will be 90 booths for 15 zones. In Lohian Khas, there will be 83 booths for 15 zones.