Punjab assembly election results 2022: Kejriwal's model of governance established now, says AAP

Even as the Aam Aadmi Party is showing a dismal performance in the early trends in two of the three states where it was contesting the Assembly elections, the party leaders in the national capital are rejoicing over the trends in Punjab where it is heading for a comfortable victory.

New Delhi: Even as the Aam Aadmi Party is showing dismal performance in the early trends in two of the three states where it has contested the Assembly elections, the party leaders in the national capital are rejoicing over the trends in Punjab where it is heading for a comfortable victory.

"Punjab has accepted Kejriwal's model of governance. It has gained recognition at the national level. People in the entire country will seek this model of governance,'' Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia said.

#WATCH Punjab has accepted Kejriwal's model of governance. It has gained recognition at the national level. People in the entire country will seek this model of governance, says AAP leader Manish Sisodia pic.twitter.com/iVtBjv271Q — ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

"These are not the trends of the victory of any party, these are trends of the acceptance of the governance model of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi," AAP MLA Dilip Pandey said.

He said that the consecutive governments in Punjab, during the past 50-60 years, have plunged the state into a quagmire. Delhi Minister Gopal Rai also expressed similar sentiments. "It is the result of Delhi`s good governance," said Rai thanking the people of Punjab for voting for change.

The early leads on Thursday indicated that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is heading to a landslide maiden victory in Punjab, while the traditional parties - Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) - are trailing.

Congress rebel Capt Amarinder Singh, whose fledgling Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) is contesting the polls in alliance with the BJP and SAD (Sanyukt), is trailing from his ‘royal’ bastion Patiala (Urban).

AAP`s chief ministerial face and sitting MP Bhagwant Mann is leading from Dhuri, the seat from where he`s trying luck for the first time. Apart from Punjab, AAP is contesting the elections in Uttarakhand and Goa, where early trends indicated that the party has failed to woo the voters.

Celebrations kicked off at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party`s Chief Ministeral`s candidate Bhagwant Mann with early trends from the Assembly polls counting showing AAP crossing halfway mark in Punjab, according to the Election Commission website.

AAP workers were seen dancing at the Dhuri residence of Mann with brooms in their hands. The broom is the election symbol of the AAP. As per the Election Commission of India, AAP is leading on 89 seats at 10:45 AM in the 117 seat Punjab assembly.

Followed by Congress (13), Shiromani Akali Dal (7) and BJP (5). AAP workers in Delhi too started celebrations at the party headquarters. A supporter had brought along his child in costume dress that was a mix of party`s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and the party`s CM face in Punjab Bhagwant Mann. 

AAP leader Raghav Chadha said that the results were an indication that the people of the state had accepted the duo of Kejriwal-Bhagwant Mann. "In future, Arvind Kejriwal will be the principal challenger of BJP and AAP will be Congress` national and natural replacement."

"We`re 'aam aadmi' but when `Aam Aadmi` rises the mightiest of thrones shake. Today`s an important day in India`s history, not only because AAP is winning one more state but because it has become a national force," he added.

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai extended greetings to the "people of Punjab for expressing confidence in AAP." "We can witness positive trends in Punjab, and we hope the results will also be positive. I thank the people of Punjab for voting for change," said Rai.

As AAP wins Punjab, it will be the party`s maiden victory in the state and a vast improvement from its performance in the 2017 elections when it had finished second behind Congress. Congress went into the polls having battled factionalism and anti-incumbency. 

The party changed its chief minister in September last year even as new Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu hinted about his own chief ministerial ambitions. The Congress finally declared Charanjit Singh Channi, the first Dalit Chief Minister of Punjab, as its chief ministerial candidate days before the polling on February 20.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, which had broken off its alliance with BJP over three farm laws that were eventually repealed, tied up with Bahujan Samaj Party for the assembly elections.

It is the first time that BJP fought over 65 seats in Punjab. It tied up with former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh`s Punjab Lok Congress and SAD (Sanyukt) led by SS Dhindsa. BJP leaders have talked of putting up a strong performance in the polls. Punjab recorded an average voter turnout of 65.50 per cent on February 20 compared to over 77 per cent in 2017.