AAP emerged as largest party in Chandigarh Municipal elections-BJP lost majority

 AAP won 14, BJP 12 and congress 08 seats in Chandigarh municipal elections

Putting up a spectacular show ahead of the assembly elections in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has bagged 14 seats in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections of 35 wards while the BJP remains at a close second with 12 seats. Congress finished third with 08 seats. Shiromani Akali Dal just got one seat.

 In the 2016 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Election (26 Wards), the BJP had won 20 seats and its erstwhile ally Shiromani Akali Dal had bagged one while the Congress had to settle at 05 seats.

Contesting the Chandigarh municipal corporation elections for the first time, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has come out at the top trumping more established BJP, Congress, and SAD in the polls.

Sitting mayor Ravi Kant Sharma of the BJP was defeated by AAP candidate Damanpreet Singh in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation polls. Ravi Kant Sharma lost his seat from ward number 17 by a margin of 828 votes.

Former mayor and BJP candidate Davesh Moudgil lost to AAP's Jasbir by 939 votes from ward number 21."AAP is contesting elections there for the first time and according to the current trends, the people of Chandigarh have given us a grand welcome. I want to thank every voter and party worker for this," Sisodia said on initial Chandigarh municipal corporation poll results.

"This victory of the Aam Aadmi Party in Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is a sign of the coming change in Punjab," tweeted AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.

 Just ahead of the Punjab election, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made a stellar debut in Chandigarh today, winning the most number of seats in the city municipal elections and pushing the BJP to second place. Arvind Kejriwal said the Chandigarh result signals change in Punjab, which votes early next year for a new government.

In a huge setback for the BJP, its mayor Ravi Kant Sharma and former mayor Davesh Moudgil were both defeated by AAP candidates. AAP's election campaign committee head Chander Mukhi Sharma lost.

On its debut, AAP has taken 40 % of the seats. The BJP's share has dropped to 33 % from 77% in 2016. The Congress, however, has upped its share of seats to 23 %.

Traditionally, the Chandigarh civic polls held every five years is a straight rivalry between the BJP and Congress. AAP's entry has changed that. With the high stakes Punjab election approaching in just weeks, it became a four-way contest between AAP, BJP, Congress and the Akali Dal-BSP alliance.

                                                                                  Election Cell