Chandigarh, May 29 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, on Friday, expressed his gratitude to the people of Punjab after the party’s victory in the state civic body polls. He asserted that the mandate is a reflection that people have supported the party’s working style.

The AAP in Punjab achieved an impressive victory in 102 civic bodies by winning 862 wards of the 1,765 that have been counted till now.

A total of 1,977 wards went to the polls on May 26.

Talking to IANS, Sisodia said: “I thank the people of Punjab for this mandate and I am grateful for the trust and faith they have shown under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal.”

Targeting the BJP, the AAP leader added: “The way this mandate has been given, with people electing Aam Aadmi Party workers as Councillors and Mayors across cities, is a message in itself that people like the politics of work. They do not like the politics of the Enforcement Directorate, hatred, fear, hooliganism or intimidation.”

Later, speaking to reporters, Sisodia attributed the reason of the victory as the “love” of the people of Punjab for CM Bhagwant Mann, the Aam Aadmi Party, and Kejriwal.

“Today, they (people of Punjab) have shown that same love again and have expressed their trust once more,” he said.

Thanking the public for their trust for the AAP, Punjab Minister and party’s Punjab unit chief Aman Arora gave the victory’s credit to the party’s workers, work undertaken by the Bhagwant Mann government in the state and to Arvind Kejriwal.

He said: “This is the beauty of democracy. One party is strong at some place, another might become victorious in a different place.”

The principal Opposition Congress emerged second by winning 348 seats. The Independents emerged third by winning 242 wards, higher than the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which won 169 wards. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 138 and six wards, respectively.

These elections are seen as a litmus test for the AAP, as they are taking place ahead of the Assembly polls slated for early 2027.

–IANS

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