Aam Aadmi Party stuns Congress with dominating win

Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday emerged victorious in India's Punjab Assembly Elections 2022, with a sweeping victory on 92 out of the 117 assembly seats. The runner-up, Congress was able to secure 18 seats, while Shiromani Akali Dal won only three seats. AAP leader Bhagwant Mann is set to become the new Chief Minister of the state.

AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann won from Dhuri Assembly seat by a margin of over 58,000 votes. In his maiden speech following the election victory, Mann thanked the people of Punjab and said his party will work together to bring the state back on the development track.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and former CM Amarinder Singh, both trailing in their seats, congratulated the AAP on its victory. Prakash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal also lost from their constituencies. The AAP’s performance in Punjab is going to create ripples that could lead to realignments at the national level too. Political observers see this performance as an endorsement of Arvind Kejriwal as a prospective national leader against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Source: The Indian Express