30052026-JTR-01.qxd 5/30/2026 12:17 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune ILLEGAL ARMS SMUGGLING MODULE BUSTED, 3 HELD QUEENS, KINGMAKERS WHO SHAPED SIKH EMPIRE LEGACY SALMAN’S MAATRUBHUMI: MAY WAR REST IN PEACE An illegal arms smuggling module was busted with the arrest of three accused & recovery of 5 pistols, 9 magazines. P2 Authors Chetna Keer, Ranjit Powar revisit overlooked women in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s court. P3 Salman Khan hosted a screening of the rough cut of his film Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 39°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 40°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET SATURDAY 7.26 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5.24 AM » SATURDAY | 30 MAY 2026 | JALANDHAR AAP sweeps civic polls in Jalandhar district; secures 49 out of 99 wards Nurmahal only local body where Independents outperformed all major parties Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 29 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections across Jalandhar district, emerging as the clear frontrunner by securing 49 out of 99 wards. According to results, declared on Friday, the party finished well ahead of its rivals, with Independent candidates finishing second with 22 wards, the Congress 21 and the BJP securing merely three wards. Reportedly, out of seven local bodies, AAP registered victory in four, including Municipal Councils of Adampur, Kartarpur, Phillaur and Lohian Khas Nagar Panchayat. In Adampur Municipal Council, AAP delivered a dominant performance by winning 10 of the 13 wards. The remaining three seats were secured by Independent candidates, who contested under a “tractor” symbol and were reportedly backed by Congress MLA Sukhwinder Kotli and other factions. AAP MLA Balkar Singh joins Kartarpur’s newly elected municipal councillors to celebrate their victory. Notably, in a major political upheaval, AAP defeated all five members of the influential Karwal family, who are known to have a strong hold in Adampur civic body. In Kartarpur, out of 15 wards, AAP secured nine seats. The Congress won three wards, Independents secured two, while the BJP failed to make any significant impact. Phillaur also saw AAP securing majority with eight wards, followed by the Congress with three and Independents along with the BSP winning two wards each. Nakodar recorded a closely contested result in 17 wards, where AAP won seven seats. Independents secured five, Congress four, and the BJP managed to get one seat. Reportedly, among the Independent winners, three were supported by the Congress and one by the BSP . Notably, Nurmahal remains the only local body where Independent candidates outperformed all major parties, winning eight of the 13 wards. AAP secured four seats, while the BJP managed to win one seat. However, senior Congress leader Navjot Dahiya said among the eight Independent winners, six were supported by his party and had contested under the ‘table’ symbol, while the remaining two were backed by the BSP . He explained that in these smaller Municipal Council elections, parties often refrained from contesting under their official symbols. Notably, although Nurmahal had held nine such elections to date, no candidate had ever contested under the Congress “hand” symbol, he said. The Congress registered its only majority in Mehatpur Nagar Panchayat, winning seven of the 13 wards with AAP the BJP and Indepen, dents securing two wards each. In Lohian Khas, AAP registered clear victory by winning nine out of 13 wards, while Congress secured the remaining four seats. According to political observers, these civic polls were seen as a litmus test for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party before the state goes for Assembly elections in 2027. Major setback for Karwal family as AAP sweeps 10 Adampur wards Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 29 In a stunning reversal for one of Adampur’s most influential political dynasties, all five members of the Karwal family lost their respective seats in the Municipal Council (MC) elections. The results, announced this Friday, mark a significant shift in the local power structure. The 13-ward council saw a dominant performance by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), while the Karwal family — contesting as Independents — faced a total washout. AAP won 10 out of 13 wards, establishing itself as the leading force in the council. The remaining three wards (Nos. 1, 3, and 5) were won by Independent candidates. Despite contesting under the “tractor” symbol and receiving backing from Congress MLA Sukhwinder Kotli, the family failed to secure a single seat. The most notable loss was that of Darshan Singh Karwal, a three-time councillor and former MC chief. Darshan Singh Karwal, who was unanimously elected as president of the Adampur MC in 2021, lost his seat to AAP’s Davinder Singh Suri by a Pawan Tinu, former AAP MLA, celebrates with the victorious Adampur Municipal Council candidates. margin of nearly 200 votes. The Karwal family faced a clean sweep by AAP in several wards. Harjinder Singh Karwal, a veteran in local politics, lost Ward No. 13 to AAP’s Amrik Singh, while his wife, Sandeep Kaur Karwal, was defeated by AAP’s Reena in Ward No. 9. The younger generation fared no better. Parwinder Singh Karwal, nephew of Darshan Singh Karwal, lost Ward No. 11 to Harwinder Singh (AAP) in his electoral debut. Similarly, Darshan Singh’s daughter-in-law, Dr Simran Paul Karwal, fell to AAP’s Kanu in Ward No. 7. The Karwal family’s longstanding dominance in Adampur’s municipal politics has faced a sudden collapse. Just years after the 2021 elections — where a Darshan Singh Karwal-led sweep secured 12 of the 13 wards — the group failed to win a single seat in this cycle. This shift follows a concerted push by the ruling AAP . Observers note that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s three visits to the area since March likely played a decisive role in eroding the family’s control over the civic body. In May, CM Mann addressed a public gathering as part of the “Shukrana Yatra,” a campaign launched following the implementation of the state’s Anti-Sacrilege law. BakhshiwinsinNawanshahr K’thala remains exception as Ranas secure mandate amid polling day tensions Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Nawanshahr, May 29 Independent candidate Paramjit Singh Bakhshi secured a decisive victory in Ward No. 13 of the Nawanshahr Municipal Council, winning by a margin of over 200 votes. The contest was closely watched after Ward No. 13 became a flashpoint for the election’s only reported instance of polling-day tension. Tensions flared at a Ward No. 13 polling booth on Tuesday as Independent candidates Paramjit Singh Bakhshi and Makhan Singh Grewal engaged in a heated verbal altercation. The dispute reportedly erupted outside the booth over allegations of voter influence. Supporters of both candidates soon gathered at the spot, escalating tensions further. The police personnel had to intervene promptly, separating the two leaders Independent candidate Paramjit Singh Bakhshi won from Ward No. 13 of the Municipal Council in Nawanshahr. and moving them away from the polling area to prevent any untoward incident. Following his victory, Bakhshi thanked residents of the ward for reposing faith in him. Speaking to mediapersons, the BA, LLB graduate and former Bar Association president said, “Last term, my wife served our community. Today, I am honoured that voters have placed their trust in me. I am deeply grateful for their support. My first priorities are clear. We will finally remove the massive garbage dump troubling our residents and complete development projects left unfinished. Work will begin now.” Ward No. 13 had already become a focal point during the elections due to civic issues highlighted by residents. Earlier, concerns over heaps of garbage, foul smell, swarms of flies and poor sanitation had dominated public discussions in the area. At Pole Star Public School in Teachers Colony, one of Nawanshahr’s oldest planned residential areas where polling was held — residents had voiced frustration over long-standing sewerage, water supply and garbage disposal problems, making civic neglect a major election issue in the ward. Jalandhar, May 29 Despite a sweeping AAP victory across the state and the Doaba region, the father-son duo of Rana Gurjeet Singh and Rana Inder Partap Singh held their ground. Both secured their bastions of Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi unscathed, clinching decisive victories in the Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council election results announced today. AAP garnered less than onethird of the votes in the Kapurthala Municipal Corporation and came in at a close second in Sultanpur Lodhi civic body elections. Aside from Mukerian (BJP won), Nawanshahr and Mehatpur (Congress won), and Rahon (Independents won), the Doaba region swung largely toward the AAP . The Kapurthala district was a notable exception, where the AAP failed to secure a majority in any civic body. In the 50-seat Kapurthala Municipal Corporation, the Congress party, led by MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, secured MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh celebrates with winning independent candidates following the announcement of Sultanpur Lodhi (Kapurthala) Municipal Council election results on Friday. a commanding majority with 31 seats. The AAP followed in second with 11, while the BJP and SAD claimed three wards each. Two seats went to Independents. In the Sultanpur Lodhi Municipal Council elections, candidates backed by local MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh secured a majority by winning seven of the 13 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) followed with five seats, while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) managed to secure one. In a moment of déjà vu — reminiscent of their previous success in the block samiti polls — the duo’s candidates emerged victorious. Despite a wider AAP wave and a campaign defined by a flurry of allegations, they held their ground. A beaming Rana Inder Partap thanked the electorate and his winning candidates, declaring: “It was me against four parties— AAP Congress, Akali Dal and , the BJP Yet, Sultanpur Lodhi . has issued a decisive mandate in our favour.” As supporters danced to the beat of dhols, Rana garlanded the victors in celebration. Ward wise results In the Kapurthala municipal elections, the Congress secured a dominant victory by winning 31 wards. Their successful candidates claimed Ward Nos. 1–3, 6–12, 14–17, 19, 21, 24, 30–32, 39–41, 44–46 and 48–50. The remaining seats were distributed among the following parties and independents. AAP won in 11 Wards that include 5, 13, 18, 20, 23, 26, 28, 29, 37, 38 and 47. Shiromani Akali Dal won three wards which include 25, 42 and 43. The BJP won in Ward Nos. 27, 33 and 34. Independents won in Ward Nos. 4 and 22. Meanwhile, in Sultanpur Lodhi Municipal Council, Rana Inder Partap’s candidates secured victory in Ward Nos. 3—5, 7, 8, 11 and 13. While AAP candidates won across Ward Nos. 2, 6, 9, 10 and 12 and SAD won in Ward No. 1. The BJP and Congress could not secure any seats in Sultanpur Lodhi MC. The Rana group candidates, who won in Ward Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 13, include — Ravi Kanta, Pawan Kumar, Gurjit Kaur, Amarjit Kaur, Sandeep Kaur, Simarpreet Kaur and Kashmir Singh Numberdar. The AAP candidates, who won in Ward Nos. 2, 6, 9, 10 and 12, include — Jatinder Sethi, Rajiv Dhir, Priya Dhir, Dinesh Dhir and Gurwinder Kaur. From the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sandeep Kaur Gill won from Ward No. 1. AAP wins in 127 of 289 wards of Doaba region Independents sweep Rahon Congress follows at 80, BJP 15, SAD 9 and BSP 4 | Ruling party registers biggest victory in Hoshiarpur Mixed verdict in MC elections: AAP dominates Banga Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 29 The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured 127 of the 289 total wards in the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) elections held earlier this week. The party’s strongest performance came in Hoshiarpur, where it achieved a majority in five out of six ULBs, winning 46 of the 80 available wards. In Jalandhar, AAP claimed 49 of the 99 wards across seven ULBs. However, the results were less favourable elsewhere; the party trailed in Nawanshahr with 16 of 47 wards (where Independents took 17), and struggled in Kapurthala, winning only 16 of 63 wards. The Congress party currently trails at 80 wards, though leadership argues the actual figure is higher. They claim several candidates in areas like Adampur and Nurmahal contested as independents rather than using the party symbol. In Jalandhar, the party secured 21 wards, with Mehatpur serving as their only stronghold. Meanwhile, Shahkot MLA Hardev S Laddi Sherowalia is poised to see his supported councillors take the lead in the local Nagar Panchayat. The party’s most significant victory came from Kapurthala, where MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh led a sweep of 31 out of 50 wards. Rana highlighted the TOTAL WARDS IN DOABA: 289 ■ AAP: 127 ■ INC: 80 ■ BJP: 15 ■ SAD: 9 ■ BSP: 4 ■ Ind: 54 performance with data: “Congress bagged 20,941 votes, significantly outpacing AAP (12,338), SAD (4,215), and the BJP (4,050), while Independents trailed with just 965 votes.” The Indian National Congress faced a significant setback in several key areas, drawing a “duck” (zero seats) in both Sultanpur Lodhi and Banga. The party’s performance remained lukewarm elsewhere. In Nawanshahr, it secured eight out of 19 wards, while in Hoshiarpur, it managed to win only 20 of the 80 total wards — just one-fourth of the available seats. The BJP’s primary success came from Mukerian, where it won seven of the 15 wards, finishing just one seat short of a majority. Beyond Mukerian, the party’s presence in the Doaba region was limited to eight additional seats. In Kapurthala the BJP won from three wards, and in Hariana, Nawanshahr, Kartarpur, Nakodar and Nurmahal, the party won in one ward each. c m y b The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) hit a historic low, slumping to a single-digit total of just nine wards across the region. Their tally included — Kapurthala: three wards; Mehatpur and Nawanshahr: two wards each; and Banga and Sultanpur Lodhi: one ward each. Notably, the SAD failed to open its account in any of the six Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Hoshiarpur. Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) secured four seats. This included two in Nawanshahr — the stronghold of their MLA, Nachhatar Pal — and another two in the reserved constituency of Phillaur. Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Nawanshahr, May 29 The Municipal Council (MC) election results across Banga, Rahon and Nawanshahr reflected a mixed political verdict, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress and Independent candidates all registering significant performances. In the Banga Municipal Council elections, the Aam Aadmi Party emerged as the clear winner by securing 10 out of 15 wards. Independent candidates won in two wards, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) managed to secure one ward each. Meanwhile, the Rahon Municipal Council elections witnessed a remarkable outcome as Independent candidates swept all 13 wards, leaving all major political parties without a single seat in the poll battle. In the Nawanshahr Municipal Council, where elections were held for 19 wards, the Congress emerged as the single largest party with eight seats, followed by the AAP with six. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) secured two wards, while Independent candidates and the BSP won in two wards and one ward, respectively. Former Congress MLA Angad Singh Saini stated that the residents of Nawanshahr had already signalled their intent for the upcoming state elections. “I am thankful to the people who voted for the Congress. We have won by such a large margin of seats,” he said. “The results indicate a diverse political landscape, with regional dynamics and local leadership playing a crucial role in shaping the electoral outcome,” voters said.