A rare political understanding between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Indian National Congress has emerged ahead of the Chandigarh mayoral election, but the most transformative change this year lies not in alliances—rather in how votes will be cast.
For the first time in Chandigarh’s history, the mayor will be elected through an open “show of hands” instead of a secret ballot. The reform follows years of controversy, allegations of manipulation, and judicial intervention that turned previous mayoral contests into national flashpoints. The new system aims to eliminate cross-voting, horse-trading, and procedural abuse that have plagued the city’s civic politics.
The one-time AAP–Congress coordination comes against the backdrop of a deeply polarised Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, with memories of the turbulent 2024 mayoral election still fresh. That episode culminated in the Supreme Court of India overturning the results after ballot tampering by the returning officer, an incident the court described as a “murder of democracy.”
A tactical understanding, not a formal alliance
Both parties insist their cooperation is strategic rather than ideological. Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky described it as a necessary move to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from gaining control despite lacking a clear mandate.
According to Congress leaders, the party is willing to concede the mayoral post to AAP while contesting the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor positions. AAP councillor and former mayor Kuldeep Kumar confirmed that an understanding had been reached, though final candidate announcements are still pending.
The arithmetic makes coordination unavoidable. In the 35-member House, both BJP and the AAP–Congress bloc currently stand at 18 votes each, including the ex-officio vote of Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari. Recent defections of two AAP councillors to the BJP have further tightened the race.
Shadow of the 2024 controversy
The shift to open voting is a direct response to the chaos of 2024, when presiding officer Anil Masih was caught on camera allegedly invalidating votes. The Supreme Court later reinstated Kuldeep Kumar as mayor, restoring AAP’s victory.
However, political instability continued. In 2025, BJP’s Harpreet Babla won the mayoral poll despite the party having fewer councillors—a result that intensified opposition allegations of manipulation.
Congress leaders argue that the city paid the price under BJP rule, citing stalled projects, governance failures, and financial depletion. These claims form the backdrop for the renewed opposition coordination in 2026.
Transparency replaces secrecy
To prevent a repeat of past controversies, the Union Territory Administration under Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has mandated open voting, full videography, media access, and a revised standard operating procedure. Nominated councillor Ramneek Singh Bedi will act as the returning officer.
The election, scheduled for January 29, will be the final mayoral poll for the Municipal Corporation House elected in 2022.
With every vote now visible, political parties can no longer rely on secrecy to manage dissent or engineer last-minute surprises. Whether transparency finally ends Chandigarh’s mayoral drama—or simply changes its tactics—remains to be seen.
