From viral audio row to ballot verdict, AAP sweeps Patiala rural polls

AAP also made a clean sweep in the Zila Parishad segment. Of the 23 Zila Parishad seats in Patiala district, results for seven seats had been declared and all were won by the party.

Buoyed by the performance, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, who represents Patiala Rural in the Assembly, announced that celebrations would be held at the Panchayat Bhawan in Patiala on Thursday morning. “In view of AAP’s massive victory, celebrations will be held at the Panchayat Bhawan on Thursday,” he said.

Opposition parties trailed far behind. Till the time of filing this report, the Shiromani Akali Dal had won seven Block Samiti seats in the district, Congress 20 seats and the BJP just one, out of the 117 Block Samiti seats whose results had been declared, including unopposed candidates.

Block-wise results

Rajpura block:
Of the 15 Block Samiti zones, Congress won eight, AAP six and the Shiromani Akali Dal one. AAP also won one Zila Parishad seat.

Sanour block:
According to SDM Dudhansadhan and Returning Officer Sukhpal Singh, AAP won 14 of the 19 Block Samiti zones, Congress two and independent candidates three. AAP also won both Zila Parishad seats in the block.

Bhunerheri block:
Returning Officer Navdeep Kumar said AAP won 15 of the 19 Block Samiti zones, Congress two, the Shiromani Akali Dal one and an independent candidate one. AAP also secured both Zila Parishad seats.

Patiala Rural block:
AAP candidates won 10 of the 15 Block Samiti zones, while the Shiromani Akali Dal won five. AAP also won both Zila Parishad seats.

Patiala block:
Of the 15 Block Samiti zones, AAP won 11, Congress two, the BJP one and independent candidates two.

Ghanaur block:
Out of the 19 Block Samiti zones, AAP won 11, while Congress won the remaining eight.