New Delhi: Will Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extend its footsteps beyond Delhi after March 10?

All exit polls predicted a landslide victory for the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. If AAP comes to power in Punjab, it would be a big worry for the saffron party, as it  enjoying power at the Centre without any opposition. If AAP wins in Punjab, it will definitely disturb BJP a lot.

BJP was the junior partner of Shiromani Akali Dal, last year SAD has severed ties with the saffron party because of three controversial farm bills of the Modi-led NDA government at Centre.

Being a junior partner, BJP has not been able to make its footprints in Punjab. But AAP has built a strong organizational network within a decade time and reached nook and corner of the state.

Despite 'false' narratives of BJP and Congress during the election campaign, AAP has approached the people with the positive campaign and announced freebies to the people in the election manifesto.

Corrected its past mistake, AAP has prepared well for Punjab elections and announced party MLA Bhagawant Mann as its Chief Ministerial candidate.

If AAP wins in Punjab, the party will emerge as strong opposition to BJP at the National level and it would extend its base to Hariyana in the coming days.

It is early to say that  Arvind Kejriwal will become a strong opponent to Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Exit polls projected that AAP to win 75 plus seats in the 117-member Assembly.

Bhagwant Mann, AAP’s chief ministerial candidate for the state, said he is ready to accept the mandate of the people. “People’s mandate as to in whose hands will they place the reins of the future of their children, youth, elderlies for the next 5 years is locked in the machines (EVMs). Results will come on 10th, we will accept the mandate of people.”

Asked about early exit polls giving the AAP a clean sweep, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said he will wait for the results to be declared on March 10.

 “The boxes (sealed EVMs) will say what is going to happen. Wait for the 10th of March,” Channi was quoted by ANI.

Congress leaders are not ready to accept the exit poll results. Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said, “Let’s just wait for 3 more days as the situation will be clear on March 10."

The Congress, meanwhile, has been projected to lose Punjab with just around 30 seats in the Assembly. The SAD-BSP alliance is predicted to manage double-digit seat count limited below 25. The BJP and allies have been projected to win single-digit tallies.

Punjab exit poll results: Punjab: Total seats 117, Majority mark 59 seats

ETG Research: 3-7, Congress: 27-33, AAP: 70-75, SAD+: 7-13

India Today: BJP :1-4, Congress 19-31, AAP: 76-90, SAD: 7-11

NewsX- Polstart: BJP: 1-6, Congress: 24-29, AAP: 56-61, SAD: 22-26

Republic TV: BJP 1-3, Congress: 23-31, AAP: 62-70, SAD: 16-24

TV9 Marathi: BJP 1-6, Congress: 24-29, AAP: 56-61, SAD: 21-26