If previous voting patterns are any indication, the ruling party in Punjab usually wins the local body polls. This could be because municipal corporation polls were so far organised in the same year that the state government came to power as their terms ended almost simultaneously.
However, this is the first time in 27 years that local body polls are held as the state government completes half its tenure – the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will complete three years in power in March 2025.
As the state is all set to vote in the civic polls on Saturday, The Indian Express looks at the results of previous elections in the four major municipal corporations of Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Patiala.
2017-18: Congress back in power
Civic polls were held in Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Patiala municipal corporations in December 2017 along with a few municipal councils of suburban areas. The Congress government under Captain Amarinder Singh had assumed power in March 2017 and the party tasted victory in all the corporations.
The Congress also won the Ludhiana civic body which went to polls in February 2018. The total number of wards had just been increased to 95 as against 75 in 2012. Of these, 62 were won by the Congress and the BJP-Akali Dal alliance bagged 21 (SAD got 11, BJP 10). The Lok Insaaf Party led by Simarjeet Singh Bains won 7 seats and the AAP secured one seat.
In Jalandhar, the total wards had increased to 80 in 2017 – up from 60 in 2012 – of which the Congress won 66, the SAD-BJP got 12 and Independents won two seats.
The Congress victory in Patiala was decisive, winning 59 of the 60 wards, while the SAD had to be content with one seat. The civic body had only 50 seats in 2012. In Amritsar, on the other hand, the Congress won 60 of the 85 wards, while the SAD-BJP secured 13 and the AAP got four seats, leaving the rest of the seats for Independents.
2012: SAD-BJP all the way
In 2012, the SAD-BJP alliance rose to power for the second consecutive term in Punjab, with its victory streak continuing in the civic body elections. The state government was formed in March that year while the civic polls were held in June.
In Ludhiana, the ruling alliance secured 44 of the 75 seats while the Congress could win only 17. Jalandhar, however, saw a better contest with the SAD-BJP bagging 30 of the 60 wards, while the Opposition Congress won 22. Six wards saw Independents winning, while one seat each went to the People’s Party of Punjab and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The SAD-BJP then took the support of Independents to enjoy a comfortable majority in the house.
Amritsar saw a cleaner sweep by the SAD-BJP where it won 48 of the 65 wards, leaving four seats for the Congress as Independents secured 12 wards. Similarly, in Patiala, the ruling alliance emerged victorious in 39 of the 50 wards while the Congress won eight.
2007: SAD-BJP secures power
The SAD-BJP alliance assumed power in Punjab in March 2007, following which the local body elections were held in August that year.
The ruling tie-up won 42 of the 75 wards in the Ludhiana civic polls, leaving 15 seats for the Congress, while in Jalandhar, SAD-BJP bagged 33 of the 60 seats. The Congress tasted victory in 19 seats and the rest went to Independents.
The SAD-BJP’s victory run continued in Amritsar where it won 33 of the 65 seats while the Congress took 18 and Independents got the rest. Again, the Independents extended support to SAD-BJP for a comfortable majority. In Captain Amarinder Singh’s hometown of Patiala, the ruling combine won 42 of the 50 seats even as the Congress managed to lock four seats and the Independents took the rest.
2002: Captain Amarinder Singh leads Congress to victory
The Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government came to power in March 2002 and the party also saw victory in the municipal corporation polls held in June that year.
In Ludhiana, the Congress secured 37 of the 70 wards, getting just enough majority, as the Akali Dal-BJP combine bagged 21 seats. Independents won the rest.
The ruling party fared better in Jalandhar where it won 32 of the 55 wards. The SAD-BJP locked nine seats, leaving the rest to Independents.
Of the 60 wards in Amritsar, the Congress won 33, while in Patiala, it emerged the winner in 43 of 50 wards. The SAD-BJP had to be content with merely seven seats.
What is happening in this year’s civic polls?
This time, the SAD and BJP are contesting separately even as the AAP has upped its game. In Ludhiana, candidates are in the fray for 95 seats, while the figure is 85 each in Jalandhar and Amritsar. While the AAP had contested the previous election, its candidates were not able to make a mark. Things are quite different this time and it remains to see how many seats they will secure.
In Patiala, where polling will take place for 60 seats, the BJP candidates have alleged that the ruling AAP prevented them from filing nomination papers. Hence, the party was able to field contestants only in 29 wards, said Pritpal Singh Baliawal, chief spokesperson of BJP Punjab. Interestingly, the key BJP leaders here include Captain Amarinder Singh, his wife Preneet Kaur, and daughter Jai Inder Kaur. President of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha state unit, Jai Inder Kaur is leading the civic polls campaign.
Besides the four major municipal corporations, polling will also be underway in 44 municipal councils and the Phagwara municipal corporation on Saturday. The results will be declared on the same day.
This is the first time in 27 years that local body polls are held as the state government completes half its tenure. (Express Archives) 
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