Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after AAP registered a sweeping victory in the Punjab civic body elections, declaring that the “ED party has been wiped out” in the state.
Kejriwal’s remarks came after the ruling AAP delivered a dominant performance across municipal corporations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats in Punjab, strengthening the party’s political grip ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. According to early results, AAP secured victories in hundreds of wards across the state, significantly outperforming the Congress, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Reacting to the results, Kejriwal accused the BJP of misusing central investigative agencies against opposition leaders and sarcastically referred to the party as the “ED party” — a reference to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He said the people of Punjab had rejected “negative politics” and endorsed the governance model of the Bhagwant Mann-led government.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also celebrated the civic poll outcome, calling it a massive endorsement of the state government’s work over the past four years. Party leaders claimed the results reflected strong public support in urban areas, traditionally considered politically competitive terrain.
The civic elections, held on May 26 across more than 100 local bodies, were widely viewed as an important political test ahead of future state elections. Over 7,500 candidates contested the polls, making it one of Punjab’s biggest local electoral exercises in recent years.
AAP’s decisive performance comes at a politically significant time for the party, which has faced pressure in recent months over corruption allegations, investigations involving some leaders, and setbacks in Delhi politics. Despite these challenges, the Punjab results are expected to boost party morale and reinforce AAP’s position as the dominant political force in the state.
Political observers believe the victory gives AAP a major advantage going into the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, while also helping Kejriwal project a narrative of continued relevance and public support beyond Delhi.
The BJP and opposition parties, however, have accused AAP of using state machinery and administrative influence during the civic elections — allegations that the ruling party has denied.
