The Aam Aadmi Party extended its imprints outside Delhi as early leads established the party was on the way to a clear majority in Punjab.

In the 117 seats in the Assembly, by 9.30 am, AAP was leading in 83 seats, while the Congress in only 18, a downslide of 57 seats, according to the Election Commission of India and NDTV. The BJP led in three seats, while the once formidable Shiromani Akali Dal led in eight seats and the Bahujan Samaj Party in one.

So far while, AAP has garnered 42.24 per cent of the votes, the Congress’ vote share fell to 23.03 per cent.

In 2017, Congress then led by Amarinder Singh had won 77 seats, while the AAP could manage 20. Some of the AAP MLAs later defected.

The AAP’s focussed campaign on welfarism, not only helped the party beat its own organisational lacunae in Punjab, it also trumped the state’s first Dalit chief minister, Charanjit Singh Channi’s popularity.

Worse still in early trends, Channi, former chief minister Amarinder Singh and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu were all trailing. Sidhu was placed at third position from Amritsar East, a part of the Lok Sabha constituency that he had represented for the BJP till 2014.

Channi, who replaced Amarinder barely months before the elections, was trailing in both the constituencis he is contesting from _ Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur.

The loss of Punjab is going to hurt the Congress bad as it was one of the few states where the party was in power. The Congress’ loss will make it difficult for the Grand Old Party to stake its claim in leading the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where the Opposition camp already has many a claimant.

The emphatic verdict for AAP would bolster its founder and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s claim to lead the Opposition, a position that the Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee feels she has claims on too.

The triumph of the regional parties opens the doors for a third front to emerge again, comprising parties opposed to both the BJP and the Congress.

Congress’ defeat in Punjab also puts a question mark on its Wayanad MP, Rahul Gandhi’s abilities to deliver electoral victory. Channi was his nominee, over Jat Sikh leader and CM aspirant Navjot Singh Sidhu. The credit for a Congress victory would have gone to Channi, but the loss lies at Rahul’s doors.