AAP Clinches Phagwara Mayoral Elections Despite Fewer Seats, Congress Alleges Foul Play

Congress, the largest party in Phagwara Municipal Corporation, loses key elections as AAP secures mayoral post through cross-voting.

In a dramatic turn of events, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured a major victory in the Phagwara Municipal Corporation elections on Saturday, clinching the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor—despite having fewer councillors than the Congress. This unexpected win has sparked a political uproar, with the Congress accusing AAP of using unfair means to tilt the results in its favor.

Ram Pal Uppal, a former Congress leader who joined AAP on January 28, was elected as Phagwara’s new mayor, defeating Congress candidate Sanjeev Bugga. Meanwhile, Tejpal Basra, who had left the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to join AAP earlier in the day, was elected senior deputy mayor, and Vipan Krishna secured the position of deputy mayor.

Congress Cries Foul

The elections, held under the supervision of retired judge Habans Lal as an independent observer appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, were marked by chaos and controversy. Congress, which had emerged as the largest party in the 50-member municipal body, had expected to form the administration. The party had secured 22 seats in the recent municipal polls, while AAP had won only 12. A Congress-BSP alliance, with three BSP councillors, further strengthened the party’s position to 25. With additional support from four independent councillors and Congress MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal eligible to vote, the party had anticipated a clear majority.

However, the tide turned when some Congress councillors allegedly cross-voted in favor of AAP, leading to an unexpected outcome. The situation was further complicated by reports that 21 Congress councillors had secured pre-arrest bail ahead of the elections, fearing what they described as "fabricated cases" being used to pressure them. The mayoral polls, initially scheduled for January 25, had already been postponed once.

Following the results, Congress leaders staged a protest outside the Public Works Department Rest House, accusing AAP of manipulating the election process. The party alleged that democracy had been violated and blamed the Punjab government for influencing the outcome.

AAP Celebrates Victory, Calls for Development-Focused Governance

Punjab AAP chief Aman Arora welcomed the election results, thanking councillors from other parties who voted in favor of AAP. “This victory reflects the councillors' commitment to the development of Phagwara over party politics,” he stated.

Arora highlighted AAP’s sweeping success in the recent Punjab civic elections, where the party had secured a clear majority in 41 out of 46 municipalities, councils, and panchayats. He assured Phagwara residents that his party’s focus would be on the city's development rather than political rivalries.

“I want to assure the people of Phagwara that it is now our responsibility to prioritize the city’s growth above party politics,” Arora said. He also extended an olive branch to opposition councillors, urging them to work collectively for the city’s welfare. “Even if your party’s mayor is not in power, don’t feel disheartened. You can bring your concerns to our mayor, and he will address them. We believe in inclusive development,” he added.

What Lies Ahead?

The Phagwara mayoral elections have added to the ongoing tensions in Punjab’s civic body politics. While AAP celebrates another strategic win, Congress is likely to continue protesting what it sees as a betrayal by some of its own members. The developments in Phagwara could signal further political maneuvering in other municipalities, with both parties gearing up for a broader battle in the state.