The political temperature in Chandigarh is set to rise as the city prepares for a high-stakes mayoral election on January 29, 2026. In a significant departure from the traditional secret ballot, the election for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayor will be conducted through an open 'Show of Hands' process, where councillors will publicly declare their choice.
A Transparent Yet Tense Procedure
The Union Territory Chandigarh Administration announced the election date and the new voting method on Friday. Under Section 60(a) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, Councillor Dr Ramneek Singh Bedi, who is not contesting, has been appointed as the Presiding Authority for the crucial meeting.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) mandates that councillors must raise their hands clearly when their choice is called. Votes will be tallied through visual verification and verbal confirmation. To ensure an indisputable record, every vote will be documented in a 'Register of Votes' and recorded in the official 'Minutes of the Meeting'.
Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav, another Prescribed Authority, reviewed the arrangements and emphasized the commitment to transparency. 'The proceedings would continuously be video-graphed without editing,' he stated. The recordings will be preserved for at least 90 days, and media coverage or a live feed will be permitted to allow public scrutiny.
A Precarious Political Balance
The announcement has ignited a fierce political debate. The electoral math reveals a razor-thin margin. Following the recent defection of two AAP councillors, Poonam and Suman Sharma, to the BJP, the BJP's strength in the House rose to 18 councillors. The AAP now holds 11 seats, and the Congress has six.
However, with Congress MP Manish Tewari's vote also counting in the mayoral polls as an ex officio member, the Congress-AAP alliance and the BJP are now evenly matched at 18 votes each. This exact tie sets the stage for a dramatic showdown where every raised hand will be critical.
The Congress has confirmed it will 'contest the mayoral polls in a tactical alliance with AAP.' Meanwhile, Congress leaders have expressed concerns about the schedule. Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky stated his party would approach the UT Administrator to demand the elections be held earlier. Spokesperson Rajiv Sharma argued the delay shortens the mayor's one-year tenure, especially with General Municipal Corporation elections due later this year. He also warned that the postponement could encourage horse-trading.
Historical Context and Recent Turmoil
The 2021 Municipal Corporation elections saw the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerge as the largest party with 14 seats, followed by the BJP with 12 and the Congress with eight. Since then, the BJP has secured three mayoral terms, but not without controversy.
In 2024, the mayoral result was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court. Initially, BJP's Manoj Sonkar was declared the winner, defeating AAP's Kuldeep Kumar 16-12. However, Kumar alleged electoral malpractice by returning officer Anil Masih. The Supreme Court overturned the result, declaring Kumar the mayor. Sonkar resigned soon after, and three AAP councillors defected to the BJP.
In 2025, in another twist, BJP's Harpreet Babla defeated AAP's Prem Lata by 19-17, despite the AAP-Congress alliance having a numerical edge of 20 councillors against the BJP's 16. This was possible due to cross-voting, highlighting the volatile nature of Chandigarh's municipal politics.
As January 29 approaches, all eyes are on the councillors whose openly raised hands will break the deadlock and decide the political control of India's first planned modern city.
