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With Thursday being the last date for filing nominations for the urban local bodies elections, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday announced its first list of 784 candidates. These polls, scheduled for December 21, will cover 87 municipal corporations and committees, alongside 49 by-elections to fill vacant seats, involving a total of 977 wards. 
 
Making the announcement, Punjab AAP president Aman Arora, accompanied by working president Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi and other senior leaders, emphasized the party’s robust and transparent candidate selection process. Arora revealed that AAP had received an overwhelming response, with over 5,000 applications for 977 wards. “This reflects the immense public trust in our governance and policies. In many wards, we received 15-20 applications per seat, showcasing the enthusiasm among people to align with AAP’s mission of development-oriented governance,” he said. 
 
Arora detailed the party’s grassroots approach to selecting candidates, explaining that screening committees at the zonal and district levels meticulously reviewed applications to ensure fairness and inclusivity. Consultations with district and Lok Sabha in-charges further reinforced the transparency of the process. 
 
The first list includes candidates for key cities such as Ludhiana (94 wards), Patiala (56 wards), and Amritsar (74 wards). The remaining candidates will be announced later in the evening after further deliberations. 
 
AAP expressed confidence in its electoral prospects, citing its consistent performance in recent panchayat and by-elections, where it achieved an 80-85 percent success rate. Arora attributed this success to the party’s focus on urban and rural development under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership. “Our track record of delivering results has earned us widespread trust. These elections will give us another opportunity to strengthen governance at the grassroots level,” he remarked. 
 
The party also celebrated high-profile defections from rival camps, highlighting the growing support for its agenda. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a setback in Handiaya, Barnala, after its two-time councilor and former district president Gurmeet Singh joined AAP along with other leaders, including BJP state executive member Harinder Singh Sidhu, Charanpreet Singh, and Buta Singh.

BJP Accuses AAP of Misusing Punjab Police in Local Body Elections, Writes to EC and DGP
 
The BJP on Wednesday leveled serious allegations against the rulingAAP, accusing it of misusing Punjab Police to influence the upcoming Urban Local Bodies elections. The BJP has submitted letters to the Punjab State Election Commission and the state Director General of Police (DGP), seeking immediate intervention to ensure fair and transparent elections. 
 
The controversy erupted after BJP candidate Gautam Sood, contesting from Ward 2 of Ghanaur Nagar Panchayat, was allegedly detained by police early on December 11. According to BJP Punjab general secretary Anil Sarin, the arrest occurred shortly after Sood’s candidature was announced. Sarin revealed that Ghanaur Station House Officer (SHO) failed to provide any credible complaint or details about the complainant, raising questions about the legality of the action. 
 
In another incident, BJP candidate Vipin Pubby from Ward 8 in Dharamkot was reportedly obstructed from filing his nomination. Sarin claimed that an individual snatched away his nomination file and authority letters for other BJP candidates in the presence of Punjab Police officers. Despite bringing these matters to the notice of concerned officials, the BJP alleged no action was taken, further fueling accusations of partisan behaviour by the Punjab Police under the influence of the AAP-led State Government. 
 
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu also lashed out at the AAP Government, urging the government officers to avoid partisanship. Bittu, addressing a press conference in Patiala along with former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Preneet Kaur, Bittu warned that strict action would be taken against any officer found indulging in unlawful activities. “Your cadre is with the Central Government, not with Bhagwant Mann or Arvind Kejriwal. If evidence of misconduct surfaces, FIRs will be lodged through the Election Commission,” Bittu cautioned. 
 
Responding to the allegations, BJP state media head Vineet Joshi remarked, “The way AAP is misusing Punjab Police clearly indicates their admission of defeat. They know they cannot win on merit, so they are resorting to undemocratic methods.” 

22 IAS Deputed as Election Observers in Different Districts

To ensure that necessary arrangements for the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful elections have been made as per provisions of law and to oversee the electoral process with strict vigilance, Punjab’s State Election Commission on Wednesday deputed 22 IAS officers as Election Observers in different districts of the State. Out of these, five officers will oversee elections in five Municipal Corporations — with one officer in each urban body. Commission’s official spokesperson said that remaining observers will supervise Municipal Council or Nagar Panchayat elections in different districts of the State. These Observers have been directed to reach their allotted districts latest by 11 am on December 12, 2024, that is the last day of nominations, to review all arrangements and necessary activities pertaining to the elections.