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It’s a wake-up call for the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab. Just over two years after it came to power with a resounding victory on 92 seats in the 117-member House in March 2022, AAP has virtually lost 60 assembly constituencies in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the result of which was declared a day before.
The ruling party has been able to secure a lead in only 32 of the 117 assembly segments, with four of its five Ministers in fray facing defeat, while six others failing to secure a lead for the party candidates in their respective assembly segments.
AAP has managed to improve its tally of one seat in 2019 elections, to three this time, along with its vote share from 7.38 percent in 2019 to 26.02 percent. However, in comparison to assembly polls, its vote share has come down by 15.99 percent from 42.01 percent.
Banking on its pro-people schemes and welfare initiatives, AAP went to polls with five Cabinet Ministers and three legislators, besides three turncoats. While its only one Minister, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, cold succeed in wresting the party’s bastion, Sangrur — the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s home constituency — marking the third consecutive victory for AAP in this constituency. Rest of the Ministers and all MLAs faced defeat.
Former Congress MLA Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal won the Hoshiarpur seat for AAP, while first-timer Malwinder Singh Kang wrested the Anandpur Sahib seat from the Congress party. Among the remaining candidates, six AAP candidates finished as runners-up, while three ended up in third place.
In the realm of assembly segments, the Congress emerged victorious in 40 constituencies, while the BJP led in 19, and the Akali Dal in 11. Notably, eight segments were secured by the incarcerated Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh in Khadoor Sahib, and another seven by the radical figure Sarabjit Singh Khalsa in Faridkot.
Despite Cabinet Minister and Ajnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal’s loss to sitting MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla in Amritsar, he managed to maintain a lead in his Vidhan Sabha segment alongside Amritsar South, albeit trailing in the remaining seven.
In Sangrur’s nine segments, AAP claimed victory in Dirba, Barnala, Sunam, and Dhuri, represented respectively by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Meet Hayer, Aman Arora, and Bhagwant Mann, respectively. However, AAP’s second-place finish in Malerkotla highlighted the intricacies of the electoral battleground.
Among other Ministers, Harjot Singh Bains retained his lead in Anandpur Sahib, as did Chetan Singh Jauramajra in Samana. However, Social Welfare Minister Dr Baljit Kaur faced setbacks in securing a lead from her segment, Malout, under Bathinda, while Harbhajan Singh ETO similarly fell short in Jandiala for his Cabinet colleague Laljit Singh Bhullar.
In a varied distribution, Lal Chand Kataruchak’s Bhoa leaned towards the BJP, while Bram Shankar Jimpa’s Hoshiarpur and Balkar Singh’s Kartarpur favoured the Congress. Similarly, Anmol Gagan Mann’s Kharar in Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha constituency and Dr Balbir Singh’s Patiala (rural) tilted in favour of the Congress.
Amidst these results, AAP’s presence showcased a mixed performance, leading in select areas such as Sanaur, Samana, and Shutrana in Patiala, along with Gill in Ludhiana. However, party candidate from Ludhiana and MLA Ashok Parashar Pappi faced defeat in eight other areas, including Ludhiana (Central).
In Fatehgarh Sahib, AAP secured a lead from Bassi Pathana, Khanna, and Amargarh. Additional constituencies won by AAP include Bholath, Phagwara, Sham Chaurasi, Chabbewal, Faridkot, Kotkapura, and Muktsar, reflecting the intricate dynamics of Punjab's electoral landscape.
Yet, AAP’s acting president Budh Ram, despite his tenure as sitting MLA from Budhlada, couldn't secure victory for party candidate Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian in the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, where Khuddian himself trailed in his Lambi segment, wrested from the five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in 2022. AAP's performance in Bathinda saw leadership in Mansa and Sardulgarh.
