Punjab result 2014 analysis: AAP steals the show with 4 seats; SAD remains 'sad'

The Lok Sabha election result 2014 in

was the most surprising one. The reason is Arvind Kejriwal- led Aam Aadmi Party (

), who made a debut in general elections and swept away with four seats out of 13 parliamentary constituencies.

Although AAP fielded 430 candidates across India, more than even BJP and Congress, AAP had a face-saver only in Punjab as it failed to make a mark in other states, including Delhi, where it had stormed a revolution during last year's assembly elections.

AAP that fielded candidates in all 13 seats in the state, gave a stiff competition to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as both parties got 4 seats each. Congress bagged 3 seats while BJP could only claim power in 2 seats.

Even AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal admitted that the Punjab results were "unexpected".

One of the shocker in Punjab results was the unexpected defeat of BJP's strongman Arun Jaitley by the Congress veteran leader Captain Amarinder Singh in Amritsar seat.

However, former MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, DR Navjot Kaur Sidhu claimed that Jaitley's defeat was anticipated as Akali leaders misled him.

In Chandigarh, actor-turned-politician Kirron Kher successfully managed to emerge as winner amid a tightrope contest against Congress senior leader Pawan Kumar Bansal and AAP's glamorous candidate Gul Panag.

In Gurdaspur, Bollywood actor and politician Vinod Khanna retained his seat for the fourth term and defeated Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa.

SAD's "unimpressive" show- A wake up call

Despite 'Modi wave' and Akali-BJP alliance, the SAD, which is in power since 2007, failed to won the hearts of voters in urban belts.

It's vote share came down to 7% as compared to 2009 results.

Now, the 'saddened' SAD- led by the chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, has decided to analyse the results and voting patterns by forming a three- member panel.

Despite being an NDA alliance, SAD's performance has raised a question mark over its leadership credibility, even after spending Rs 49 lakh on campaigning.

While the results are a time for introspection for the ruling Akali Dal-BJP alliance, AAP needs to take Punjab more seriously from now on. For the Congress, the high point was Amarinder's victory over Jaitley.

NOTA power in Punjab

In Punjab, a total of 58,754 voters opted for NOTA button, which works out at 0.4 per cent of total votes polled for 13 Lok Sabha seats, as per data available with election office.

NOTA numbers were more than the votes what CPI (54,785) candidates garnered in Punjab.

NOTA option was exercised the most in Ferozpur parliamentary seat where 7,685 voters rejected all the candidates in the fray.

In Amritsar, as many as 2,533 voters went with NOTA option, as per data.

Sangrur Lok Sabha seat witnessed the least number of people exercising NOTA option as 2,188 voters did not vote for any candidate.

The state went to polls on April 30 in a single phase.

Here is the constituency wise result: