Chandigarh, May 29 (IANS) The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab on Friday 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.

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.

AAP dominated Punjab’s civic body polls, sweeping most municipal wards across the state, while the BJP and Congress wrested control of Abohar and Kapurthala from AAP.

Vote counting for Punjab's crucial Municipal elections begins, featuring 7,554 candidates amid tight security ahead of Assembly polls.

AAP secures over 860 wards in Punjab civic polls, with CM Mann declaring victory against opposition's divisive politics.

The Shiromani Akali Dal's performance, with 12 civic body wins, underscores its continuing decline in urban Punjab.

Amritsar: Counting of votes for the Punjab civic body elections began across multiple counting centres in the state on Friday amid elaborate security

As AAP surged ahead in the Punjab civic body polls, winning over 860 wards and leading in several others, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the voters had rejected the Opposition’s “politics of hatred” and backed the ruling party’s development agenda.

A total of 7,555 candidates are contesting the civic polls. Among them, the AAP fielded 1,801 candidates, Congress 1,550, BJP 1,316 and SAD 1,251 candidates.