In the Punjab civic polls, while the BJP managed to gain ground in semi-rural areas, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) faced significant setbacks, marking a shift in the political dynamics of the state. The elections, which covered five municipal corporations 41 municipal councils, and nagar panchayats, saw both parties facing difficulties, but the BJP outperformed the SAD despite contesting separately for the first time in nearly three decades.

The SAD, traditionally dominant in rural areas, struggled in these polls. Many of its candidates chose to contest as Independents, avoiding the party’s symbol due to concerns over potential backlash linked to internal party turmoil. This turmoil stemmed from Akal Takht’s religious punishment of party leadership, which has tainted the SAD’s public image.

The BJP, with a more strategic focus on semi-rural areas, demonstrated a stronger performance. In Ludhiana, the largest civic body in Punjab, the BJP contested 90 out of 95 wards, winning 19. This was a significant achievement, particularly when BJP candidate Poonam Ratra triumphed over Meenu Prashar, the wife of the local AAP MLA, by a substantial margin. In contrast, the SAD only won 2 of the 78 wards it contested.

In Patiala, the BJP secured just 4 out of 25 contested wards, despite heavy campaigning by Jai Inder Kaur, daughter of former CM Captain Amarinder Singh. The SAD, on the other hand, drew a blank in Jalandhar, winning no seats out of the 31 it contested. In other areas like Phagwara and Amritsar, the BJP’s performance was modest, but it still surpassed the SAD, which was struggling to maintain its influence.

Anil Sarin, BJP’s state general secretary, expressed satisfaction with the results, citing the improvement in the BJP’s performance compared to previous elections. He noted that the party’s steady expansion into semi-rural areas was a positive sign for its future in the state.

However, despite the BJP’s progress, its civic poll results were not on par with its strong 2024 Lok Sabha performance in the major urban centers of Punjab, where it had gained significant support, but failed to secure any seats. The SAD, which had refrained from campaigning in the recent by-polls due to Sukhbir Singh Badal’s “Tankhaiya” status, faced further challenges in these polls, with its leaders acknowledging that the party’s local strategy of contesting as Independents led to scattered victories but no major successes.

As the BJP continues to make inroads in Punjab’s semi-rural constituencies, the SAD’s struggles suggest a potential shift in voter preferences, signaling challenges for the Akali Dal’s traditional dominance in rural Punjab.