BJP Wins Chandigarh Mayoral Election, Defeats AAP-Congress Alliance 19-17

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a significant win in the Chandigarh mayoral elections, defeating the AAP-Congress alliance with 19 votes against 17.
The high-stakes contest resulted in BJP candidate Harpreet Kaur Babla emerging victorious over AAP’s Prem Lata.
A Tense Electoral Battle
Polling for the mayoral position commenced at 11:20 AM in the assembly hall of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and concluded at 12:19 PM.
The election was crucial, with both sides vying for control of the city’s administration.
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation consists of 35 members, including elected councillors and the Chandigarh MP, who has voting rights as an ex-officio member.
Before the election, the seat distribution was as follows: AAP with 13 councillors, Congress with 6, BJP with 16, and the Chandigarh MP (Congress) holding one vote.
Party Shifts and Cross-Voting Impact
A few days prior to the election, Congress councillor Gurbax Rawat defected to the BJP, increasing the party’s tally to 16.
Additionally, the election witnessed unexpected cross-voting by three councillors from the AAP-Congress alliance, which ultimately benefited the BJP’s candidate.
Election Procedure and Supreme Court Oversight
The election was conducted via secret ballot, with nominated councillor Ramneek Singh Bedi acting as the presiding officer.
To ensure transparency, the Supreme Court appointed retired Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Jaishree Thakur as an independent observer. The court also mandated the videography of the entire election process.
Historical Context and Previous Controversies
This election follows a controversial mayoral election in 2024, where the Supreme Court declared AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar as the rightful winner after overturning the initial result.
The previous presiding officer, Anil Masih, was caught on camera invalidating eight ballots that were in favor of the AAP-Congress alliance.
The AAP-Congress Alliance Strategy
As part of their alliance pact, AAP fielded Prem Lata for the mayoral post, while Congress put forward Jasbir Singh Bunty and Taruna Mehta for the positions of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively. However, the alliance failed to secure victory amid internal conflicts and defections.
BJP’s Continued Dominance
With this win, the BJP continues its stronghold over the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
This marks the fourth year of the five-year rotational mayoral system, with the BJP having retained the seat for nine consecutive terms before the AAP’s win in 2024.
Legal and Political Implications
Just before the election, an FIR was registered against former mayor and AAP councillor Kuldeep Kumar and his brother-in-law Rahul Chanalia over corruption allegations related to sanitation worker recruitment.
This development added to the political turbulence surrounding the elections.
Additionally, reports of internal disputes within the AAP surfaced before the elections, leading the party to move its councillors to a hotel in Punjab’s Ropar town to prevent poaching.
Despite these measures, the alliance faced defections and cross-voting that contributed to its loss.
Candidate Backgrounds
Harpreet Kaur Babla, the BJP’s victorious candidate, is serving her second term as a councillor. She is the daughter of a retired Army Colonel and is married to former Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla.
On the other hand, AAP’s Prem Lata, aged 46, is the wife of a retired Indian Air Force officer and currently works as an English teacher for high school students.
Supreme Court’s Role in Ensuring Fairness
Given past controversies, the Supreme Court took proactive steps to oversee the election process, appointing Justice Jaishree Thakur as an independent observer.
This intervention highlights the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring transparency in electoral procedures.
The Road Ahead
The BJP’s victory in Chandigarh’s mayoral elections is seen as a significant political milestone ahead of upcoming elections in Delhi.
The party’s ability to secure cross-votes from the opposition further cements its influence in municipal politics.
With this win, BJP consolidates its position in Chandigarh’s administration, setting the stage for further political maneuvering in the region.
As the new mayor takes charge, the city’s governance and development agenda will be under close scrutiny.