Punjab: no government lasts long
16 Assembly elections · 1951–2022 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.
Punjab has voted in 16 Assembly elections between 1951 and 2022. Indian National Congress has been the largest party in 9 of them — more than any rival.
Power has changed hands 11 times. The steadiest run was Indian National Congress's — the top party from 1951 to 1967 across 4 elections.
In 2002, Indian National Congress broke through — 62 of 117 seats — ending Shiromani Akali Dal's hold, which fell from 75 to 41.
In 2007, Shiromani Akali Dal broke through — 48 of 116 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 62 to 44.
In 2017, Indian National Congress broke through — 77 of 117 seats — ending Shiromani Akali Dal's hold, which fell from 56 to 15.
In 2022, Aam Aadmi Party broke through — 92 of 117 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 77 to 18.
The sharpest single swing was 1997: Shiromani Akali Dal went from 0 to 75 seats, a gain of 75.
Shiromani Akali Dal's steepest fall came in 1992, from 73 seats to 0.
The closest verdict was 2007: Shiromani Akali Dal finished just 4 seats ahead of Indian National Congress.
Most recently, in 2022, Aam Aadmi Party holds 92 of 117 seats on 42.0% of the vote — a clear majority (59).
Pivotal elections
who held the house, seat by seat- INC8379%
- SAD88%
- IND77%
- CPI33%
- Others44%
Indian National Congress · 36.7% of the vote · majority
- SAD7564%
- BJP1815%
- INC1412%
- IND65%
- Others43%
Shiromani Akali Dal · 37.6% of the vote · majority
- AAP9279%
- INC1815%
- SAD33%
- BJP22%
- Others22%
Aam Aadmi Party · 42.0% of the vote · majority
Every time power changed hands
- 1969SAD took the house with 43 of 104, ending INC’s run (48 → 38).
- 1972INC took the house with 66 of 104, ending SAD’s run (43 → 24).
- 1977SAD took the house with 58 of 117, ending INC’s run (66 → 17).
- 1980INC took the house with 63 of 117, ending SAD’s run (58 → 37).
- 1985SAD took the house with 73 of 117, ending INC’s run (63 → 32).
- 1992INC took the house with 87 of 117, ending SAD’s run (73 → 0).
- 1997SAD took the house with 75 of 117, ending INC’s run (87 → 14).
- 2002INC took the house with 62 of 117, ending SAD’s run (75 → 41).
- 2007SAD took the house with 48 of 116, ending INC’s run (62 → 44).
- 2017INC took the house with 77 of 117, ending SAD’s run (56 → 15).
- 2022AAP took the house with 92 of 117, ending INC’s run (77 → 18).
Party identity
renames, splits and mergers along the way- Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.