After two failed attempts, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) finally succeeded in electing Baljit Singh and Lakhwinder Singh Lakhi Sandhu as president and vice-president of the Banur Municipal Council on July 6, 2026. The election was marked by high drama, sloganeering against the AAP government, and allegations of police misconduct from dissident councillors.
Factionalism Exposed as Councillors Allege Exclusion
The election process exposed deep factionalism within the ruling party. Four AAP councillors and three Congress councillors claimed they were not allowed to enter the election room to cast their votes. They accused the police of using force, including pushing and shoving. AAP councillor and presidential contender Harjot Singh Bajwa showed a bruise on his lip, alleging that police beat him. Congress councillor Preeti Walia stated that women members were locked in a room after being pushed. Despite winning 10 of the 13 seats in the House, AAP faced internal strife with two contenders for the president post, delaying the election.
High Court Deadline and Heavy Police Presence
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed that the election process be completed within 10 days. In response, personnel from multiple police stations in Patiala district were deployed, turning the area around the Municipal Council office into a virtual cantonment. Barricades were erected on the MC road, and police restricted access even to the outer gate. Seven councillors—four from AAP and two from Congress—who were barred from entering the polling booth raised slogans against MLA Neena Mittal and the police.
Allegations and Denials
Harjot Singh Bajwa and Preeti Walia alleged that the election was a farce as the majority of councillors were kept out. They vowed to challenge the election in court. Meanwhile, MLA Neena Mittal congratulated the newly elected office-bearers and welcomed them with garlands. Denying the allegations, DSP Banur Sukhdev Singh said the AAP rebels and Congress councillors had created a ruckus, forcing police intervention. Former Congress MLA from Rajpura Hardial Singh Kamboj also arrived at the scene, accusing the ruling party of rigging elections in Rajpura earlier and in Banur that day.
Impact and Aftermath
The successful election of the president and vice-president resolves the immediate political deadlock in the Banur Municipal Council, but the allegations of exclusion and police misconduct may lead to legal challenges. The incident underscores ongoing factionalism within AAP in Punjab, where internal rivalries have disrupted local governance. The heavy police presence and accusations of rigging also raise questions about the conduct of civic elections in the state.
