Ludhiana's 11-Minute Budget Session Sparks Political Firestorm
In what critics are calling one of the fastest and most controversial budget approvals in Punjab's municipal history, Ludhiana's mayor declared a ₹1,258.8-crore development plan "passed" after just 11 minutes of proceedings, leaving opposition councillors with untouched snacks and a barrage of unanswered questions.
A Meeting That Prioritized Speed Over Substance
The Tuesday session at Guru Nanak Bhawan, intended to outline the city's development for the 2026-27 financial year, saw only three minutes of actual discussion before Mayor Inderjit Kaur approved the agenda. The meeting commenced with the national anthem and a two-minute silence for former councillor Jasbir Singh Jassa, after which secretary Vivek Verma read just the first page of the agenda before the mayor declared the budget passed.
Opposition members from the BJP, Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal staged a joint protest, alleging the governing party lacked the required majority at the time of the vote. "They are afraid of clarifying things going on in the House," said Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti. "If they were going to use this technique, they should have just approved it from home."
Unprecedented Procedures and Altered Arrangements
For the first time in the corporation's history, a "table agenda" was passed during a budget meeting without copies being provided to the House. While MC officials stated the Municipal Corporation Act does not explicitly ban the practice, they acknowledged it was without precedent.
Seating arrangements were reportedly altered to mix governing and opposition members, which critics claim was a tactic to obscure the governing party's low attendance. One Aam Aadmi Party councillor, Prabhpreet Kaur, arrived at 11:30 AM—nearly 15 minutes after the budget had already been authorized.
Waste of Public Funds and Rapid Exit
The session ended so abruptly that many ruling party members had not yet arrived, while others left holding unconsumed snacks. BJP councillor Ruchi Gulati highlighted the waste of public funds, noting that tea and snacks served to members remained untouched. "I couldn't even eat the samosa I was served before the meeting was over," she stated.
Attempts by opposition members to initiate debate were ignored as the mayor, MC commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta, and several MLAs exited the hall. The municipal corporation spent more time on the national anthem and tea service than debating the massive development plan.
Mayor's Defense and Opposition's Accusations
Mayor Inderjit Kaur defended the brevity of the meeting, citing a lengthy all-party briefing held on Monday. "We spent at least 2.5 hours in detailed discussion yesterday," she said. "Whether you give the opposition 10 minutes or five hours, it always ends in chaos."
However, opposition councillors have branded the proceedings a "mockery of democracy" and a "drive-through" approach that prioritizes speed over substance. The political firestorm continues as questions remain about the legality and transparency of the rapid-fire approval process.
