Chandigarh’s mayoral elections recently delivered unexpected outcomes, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reclaiming power and leaving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress alliance reeling.
On January 30, 2025, BJP's Harpreet Kaur Babla emerged victorious with 19 out of 36 votes, defeating the AAP-Congress candidate Prem Lata, who received 17 votes. This shocking turn of events has raised questions about the stability and coherence of the AAP-Congress coalition.
Last year's controversies resurface as another scandal almost marred the election process. A year ago, AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor was declared the legitimate winner of the mayoralty by the Supreme Court after previous results were deemed invalid due to fraudulent actions by returning officer Anil Masih. The court found Masih guilty of invalid ratings to favore the BJP and his actions sparked outrage nationwide.
This time, the BJP was projected as the underdog, holding only 16 seats against AAP’s 13 and Congress’s six, and needing defections from opposition ranks to succeed. Key to the BJP's strategy was the last-minute shift of Congress councillor Gurbax Rawat to their side just days before the vote, boosting their numbers to 16, effectively creating the potential for victory through strategic alignments and persuasion.
Despite expectations for victory from the AAP-Congress combine, which had been rendered strong with 20 seats, everything hinged on loyalties. Three councillors from the opposition managed to break ranks, throwing their support behind Babla, which helped secure her election by a two-vote margin.
Three defector votes might have changed the tide of the election, according to observers. There’s perhaps another layer of intrigue considering the anti-defection moves made by the alliance, where they shifted their councillors to a hotel to prevent any last-minute shifts.
Strikingly, the alliance of AAP-Congress appears to have been ineffective at keeping everyone on board, as voiced by H S Lucky, the Chandigarh Congress president, who stated, "We will identify who cross-voted and strict action would be initiated against them." This remark showcases the severe disappointment being felt within the coalition heading forward.
The AAP-Congress coalition did manage to secure the senior deputy mayor and the deputy mayor positions, with Congress’s Jasbir Singh Bunty winning the senior deputy mayor seat against BJP’s Bimla Dubey and Taruna Mehta of Congress being elected as deputy mayor against BJP's Lakhbir Singh.
The aftermath of this election points to shaky ground for the AAP-Congress alliance, with voices like Lucky aspiring for accountability among their ranks, signifying internal struggles post-defection and accusations of cross-voting.
Previously, the Supreme Court had installed retired Judge Justice Jaishree Thakur as electoral observer, overseeing the election process and recording all proceedings to assure fairness. All votes were cast, and no invalid ballots were reported this time, which reassured some of maintaining integrity amid the political upheaval.
The situation has left observers speculating on stability levels within the AAP and Congress and how deeply these results might affect future political maneuverings. The BJP, after its latest victory, seems poised to capitalize on this wedge, which could strengthen their hold over Chandigarh’s governance.
The results come as part of the broader political narrative shaping Chandigarh. Defeat for the AAP and Congress candidates indicates potential vulnerabilities, allowing the BJP to consolidate their strategy effectively. Without question, these electoral twists will be topics of fierce debate as political dynamics within the city evolve.
The rekindled rivalry among these parties leads to questions about future elections and the alliances formed, making this mayoral race not just another battle but possibly shaping the contours of Chandigarh's political discourse moving forward.