The results of Punjab’s recent Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections have been celebrated, dismissed, spun and counter-spun by all political parties. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) calls it an endorsement. The Opposition calls it a distorted picture. The truth, as always, lies in between.
These were not Assembly elections. But they were not irrelevant either. Rural local body polls often reveal what people are thinking quietly before they speak loudly in Assembly elections. With barely a year left for the 2027 Vidhan Sabha polls, these results deserve calm decoding, not chest-thumping.
AAP: Ahead, But on Test Mode
There is no denying that AAP has emerged as the largest political force in rural Punjab. Winning a majority of Zila Parishad zones and a large number of Panchayat Samiti seats shows that the party has retained a significant rural footprint even after nearly four years in power.
For a ruling party, this is important. It indicates that there is no strong statewide anti-incumbency wave yet. Welfare schemes, free electricity, schools, mohalla clinics, and constant communication seem to have helped AAP stay competitive in villages.
But this is not a smooth victory.
In many places, AAP lost in the home areas of its own ministers, MLAs and senior leaders. Several wins came by very narrow margins. Local candidates, village equations and personal credibility mattered more than party slogans.
This tells us something important: AAP’s support is spread wide, but it is not deeply rooted everywhere. Sustaining this till 2027 will require serious governance, not self-congratulation. Rural Punjab is still deeply worried about farm incomes, water crisis, unemployment, drugs and migration. These are not problems that slogans can solve.
Congress: Chamkaur Sahib Shows Leadership Still Counts
One of the most telling outcomes came from Chamkaur Sahib in Ropar district.
While AAP retained an overall edge in the district, the Congress swept the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly segment under former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. It won all Zila Parishad seats and dominated the Panchayat Samiti zones there.
This is politically significant.
It clearly shows that leadership still matters. Channi’s personal connect and local organisation delivered results. It also shows that Congress is not finished everywhere, as is often claimed.
Does this mean Congress is back statewide? No. But it does mean the party still has leaders who can win decisively if factionalism is controlled and effort is focused. The challenge for Congress is time. One year is not much, but it is enough if the party stops fighting itself.
Akali Dal: Recovery With a Dangerous Undercurrent
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has pointed out that its strike rate was better than that of the Congress. In simple words, it won a higher percentage of the seats it contested, even though it fought fewer seats due to rejection of nomination papers. It has also proven that it is “the” only Akali Dal and the splinter groups have been condemned.
This argument has some merit. It shows that SAD still has organisational strength in pockets of Malwa—Bathinda, Muktsar, parts of Faridkot. Compared to the near-wipeout of 2022, the party is clearly recovering some ground.
But there is a worrying trend that cannot be ignored.
There are increasing signs of experimentation with muscle-based influence, intermediaries and unsavoury local power centres. Call them “strong-arm elements”, “criminal influencers” or “parallel enforcers”—whatever the name, this is a dangerous path. Punjab has suffered enough from this culture.
Any political revival built on intimidation or fear will only deepen Punjab’s crisis, not solve it. Parties must be careful not to revive old methods under new excuses.
BJP: Small Rural Gains, Big Psychological Shift
The BJP’s performance in rural Punjab remains limited. But context matters.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP candidates were completely routed in rural areas and faced strong resistance on the ground. Villages were openly hostile. In that background, even a small improvement in rural local body polls is significant.
It indicates a thaw in the rural electorate’s mindset—not acceptance yet, but softening. This gives the BJP organisational confidence and space to grow. Still, the party’s real hopes remain in urban Punjab, not the countryside. This thaw coupled with Urban tilt, they can spring surprise if they set their narrative right to Punjab.
Whether this minor rural energy can support an urban push will depend on how seriously the BJP addresses Punjab-specific concerns instead of relying only on national messaging.
The Issue That Will Decide 2027
Beyond party arithmetic, there is one issue that will increasingly dominate Punjab’s politics.
Law and order. Gang violence. Drugs. And the deep nexus between business interests, politicians, sections of the police, criminal networks and overseas handlers pushing narcotics into Punjab.
As I have written earlier, this is no longer a side issue. It is becoming the central issue.
People are increasingly worried—not just about crime, but about who actually controls power. The fear is that criminal networks, flush with drug money, will now try to capture political space directly to protect and expand their illegal business.
In 2027, voters will not just ask who promises welfare. They will ask:
Who can I trust to control this menace?
Who has the authority, will and credibility to restore order?
The party or leader that convinces Punjab that they can break this nexus—not manage it—will gain a decisive edge.
What These Results Really Mean
AAP is ahead, but far from invincible.
Congress still has life and potential to make good gains, but lacks discipline.
Akali Dal is recovering, but must choose the right path.
BJP sees early signs of acceptance, but has a long road ahead.
Punjab’s voters are alert, under fear, frustrated, impatient and no longer emotional. They are watching closely. In Punjab, momentum is temporary. Credibility is everything.
Although these rural polls do not decide 2027, but they send a clear warning to all parties: govern seriously, clean your ranks, and restore trust or be prepared for a surprise verdict.