The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is leading big in Punjab's zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls as counting continues. On December 18, officials said results for 317 zones of the zila parishad are in, with AAP winning 201. Congress follows with 60 zones, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) 39, BJP 4, BSP 3, and Independents 10. AAP won seats across districts including 22 in Hoshiarpur, 19 in Amritsar and Patiala each, and 17 in Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur. Congress and SAD have some wins in other zones, while BJP took four zones in Pathankot. In panchayat samiti polls, AAP also leads in most zones. Polls held on December 14 covered 347 zila parishad zones and 2,838 panchayat samiti zones. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said this success shows rural voters endorse the Bhagwant Mann government’s work. Speaking to media in Mohali, Kejriwal said, "Almost 70% seats in zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls have been won by AAP." He firmly denied opposition claims of poll irregularities, calling the elections free and fair. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused AAP of "stealing" the polls, stating on X, "@AAPPunjab may bask in STOLEN GLORY of 'sweeping' the rural mandate, but it knows pretty well where it stands." Earlier, Congress and SAD complained of high-handedness and misuse of official powers by AAP. The final results are awaited as counting proceeds.