India, June 3 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), buoyed by its improved performance in Punjab's recently concluded local body elections, believes the results reflect the party's growing acceptance in the state ahead of the 2027 assembly polls. Though still trailing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by a considerable margin, the BJP increased its tally from 49 seats in 2021 to 170 seats in elections held across 1,977 wards.

Senior BJP leaders said the outcome pointed to a shifting political mood in the state. "The AAP tried its best to prevent the BJP from campaigning, it used the state's machinery, money and even muscle to prevent the BJP from gaining, but the public's inclination is now showing," a senior party functionary said.

Since...