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The results of Punjab’s municipal elections came on Friday. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has taken a clear lead in these elections. There is now controversy regarding the election results. Throughout the elections, the opposition has accused the AAP government of rigging. There were allegations of violence, pressure and rigging from nomination to voting.

According to the results till 3 pm, AAP won in 675 wards. Congress won in 270, Independents in 211, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in 150, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 67 and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 6 wards. 80 candidates were elected without contest, of which 63 were from AAP.

Why are the figures shocking?

In Dhuri, the home constituency of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP won 20 out of 21 wards. In Anandpur Sahib, the constituency of Education Minister Harjot Bains, 11 out of 13 wards went to AAP. AAP also won 17 out of 19 wards in Gidderbaha, the home constituency of Congress President Amarinder Singh Wadding.

What are the allegations of the opposition?

Opposition parties alleged that their candidates were not allowed to submit forms at the time of nomination or were forced to withdraw their names under pressure. Clashes and violence took place at many places on May 26, the day of voting. In the elections, voting was done through ballot papers instead of EVMs, on which BJP raised the maximum objection.

Why is BJP calling it vote theft?

BJP has termed voting in the civic elections as rigged. The BJP called it ‘vote theft’ and said AAP deliberately chose ballot papers to create irregularities. BJP spokesperson Vineet Joshi said that Aam Aadmi Party committed all kinds of atrocities. Everything happened from canceling nominations to intimidating people. BJP candidate was leading in Nayagaon, yet counting is being done for the third time.

What allegations has Congress made?

Congress said that it is common for the ruling party to get advantage in municipal elections. Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa said that these are local body elections and the main contest will be between AAP and Congress in the assembly elections. Akali Dal got some relief from these results. Akali Dal claimed that it still has a good hold in urban Punjab.

Both BJP and Congress did not get the results as expected. Congress felt that anti-incumbency would work in their favor but it did not happen. Now Aam Aadmi Party has passed the litmus test in the elections before the year 2027, while the opposition is alleging opaqueness in the elections.