Chaos Erupts in Ludhiana MC House as Rs 1,258.8 Crore Budget Passed Without Discussion
A crucial session intended to outline Ludhiana's development roadmap devolved into utter chaos on Tuesday, when the Municipal Corporation's General House meeting concluded abruptly after passing a massive Rs 1,258.80-crore budget in a mere five minutes, bypassing any substantive debate. The meeting, held at Guru Nanak Bhawan in Ludhiana, quickly escalated into a scene of uproar and protest, highlighting deep political rifts within the city's governance.
Opposition Outcry and Symbolic Protests
Opposition councillors from the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, and BJP demanded a detailed discussion on the budget, arguing that such a substantial financial plan required clarity on ward-wise allocations. However, Mayor Inderjeet Kaur, citing the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) majority, ignored these demands and declared the budget passed through a voice vote. This swift action triggered immediate protests, with opposition members raising slogans against the AAP government.
In a symbolic act of defiance, Congress councillor Arun Sharma sat outside the venue with a rattle, stating, "This is what the ruling party has reduced the House to, now only the people will question them." Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti attempted to approach the stage to request a discussion but was stopped by police intervention. Bhatti criticized the Mayor's decision to walk away without debate, questioning the purpose of convening a budget meeting if decisions were pre-finalized in an all-party meeting.
Budget Details and Criticisms
According to Bhatti, out of the total budget, only Rs 518 crore has been earmarked for development, with Rs 200 crore specifically allocated for garbage management. Opposition leaders expressed concern that the overall development allocation had been reduced, despite the Local Bodies Minister hailing from Ludhiana. Bhatti sarcastically noted that the city might qualify for the Limca Book of Records for the "shortest budget session ever," as no councillor was permitted to speak.
BJP members joined the protest, staging a dharna and mocking the proceedings as a "waste of time." They added sarcastically that councillors were "called only to eat samosas," which were ironically not served before the meeting ended in less than five minutes. BJP councillor Rohit Sikka labeled the exercise "a joke in the name of a meeting."
Mayor's Defense and Broader Criticisms
Mayor Inderjeet Kaur defended the move, asserting that the opposition's role was limited to creating disruption. "The opposition councillors had no constructive suggestions and only wanted to obstruct proceedings. Passing the Budget was necessary in public interest," she stated firmly.
Former Congress councillor Mamta Ashu provided a detailed critique, highlighting that the Municipal Corporation's 2026–27 budget reflects inflated projections and glaring inconsistencies that undermine public trust. She pointed out that despite failing to meet the previous year's income target of Rs 10,352 lakh, achieving only Rs 7,969 lakh till February, the corporation has set a higher target for the coming year without a new roadmap or improved recovery mechanisms. Key issues include:
- Excise duty allocations have been slashed despite an increase in liquor shops.
- Horticulture spending is proposed to rise steeply despite underutilization.
- The buildings and roads branch faces cuts even as city roads deteriorate.
- In the health sector, actual expenditure of Rs 1,250 lakh on cancer and drug treatment was made without prior allocation, only to be reduced to Rs 150 lakh in the new budget.
Ashu emphasized that this pattern suggests development remains confined to paper, raising serious questions about transparency, accountability, and the sincerity of financial planning.
Infrastructure and Councillor Plight
Former councillor and senior leader Parminder Mehta launched a scathing attack, likening the plight of Ludhiana's councillors to "refugees." He noted that despite passing budgets worth thousands of crores, councillors lack basic facilities such as designated rooms at the zonal level. Mehta lamented that the corporation's headquarters lacks proper bathrooms, lifts, and accessible infrastructure, leaving citizens, especially the elderly and differently abled, struggling. He argued that before increasing the budget annually, the administration should ensure basic amenities for both the public and its own councillors and staff.
The chaotic session underscores ongoing governance challenges in Ludhiana, with opposition parties accusing the AAP of undermining democratic processes, while the ruling party insists on the necessity of swift budget passage for public welfare. The incident has sparked widespread debate about municipal accountability and the future of city development.
