In an unprecedented move for the Union Territory, the upcoming election for Chandigarh's Mayor is set to be decided by a public show of hands on January 29, 2026, marking a dramatic departure from the secret ballot system used for nearly three decades. This historic change has resulted in a nail-biting political deadlock, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-Congress alliance now locked in a direct contest, each commanding 18 votes in the 35-member Municipal Corporation House.
End of an Era: From Secret Ballot to Public Vote
This will be the first time since the Municipal Corporation's inception in 1996 that the mayoral polls, which also include elections for Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, will be conducted via a show of hands. The decision, taken by the UT Administration, aims to eliminate the chronic issue of cross-voting that has plagued previous secret ballot elections. Under the new transparent system, any councillor defying their party's whip during the public vote will face immediate and strict disciplinary action.
Interestingly, the shift has received support from all major political factions in the city. Senior BJP leader Sanjay Tandon hailed it as a fully transparent system that leaves no room for doubt about a councillor's loyalty. AAP's Chandigarh unit president, Vijay Pal Singh, credited the change to persistent efforts and memorandums submitted to the UT Administrator, who also serves as the Punjab Governor.
A Legacy of Controversy and a Tight Race
The push for this reform isn't new. Congress leader and former councillor Chander Mukhi Sharma recalled that a resolution for a show of hands was passed by the House back in 2024 when AAP's Kuldeep Kumar was the Mayor. However, it was only pursued actively later by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari. Sharma expressed hope that the new method would finally end the malady of cross-voting.
The shadow of the contentious 2024 mayoral election looms large. In that election, BJP's Manoj Sonkar was initially declared the winner, defeating Kuldeep Kumar 16–12. However, Kumar alleged malpractice by the returning officer, Anil Masih. The Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling, later scrutinised the ballot papers and declared Kuldeep Kumar the rightful Mayor, overturning the initial result.
The current electoral math is razor-thin. After the 2021 polls, AAP was the largest party with 14 seats, BJP had 12, and Congress held 8. One Shiromani Akali Dal councillor later joined AAP. Recently, two AAP councillors, Poonam and Suman Sharma, defected to the BJP, boosting its strength to 18. AAP now has 11 councillors, and Congress has 6. The vote of Congress MP Manish Tewari, which counts in the mayoral election, brings the AAP-Congress alliance's tally to an equal 18.
Political Reactions and Future Safeguards
Despite the parity, Congress's Sharma cautioned that the BJP might still attempt horse-trading. Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra linked the positive developments to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies and stated his party's comfort with any mode of election. He pointed out the irony of Congress opposing a transparent system.
AAP's Vijay Pal Singh reiterated a crucial long-term demand: the need for an anti-defection law for municipal councillors. He stressed that elected representatives should not be allowed to switch sides after leaving their original party, a safeguard the party will continue to advocate for.
As the city prepares for this historic public vote on January 29, all eyes are on the Municipal Corporation Bhawan. The show of hands will not only decide the city's leadership but also test the discipline and unity of the political camps in a full public view, setting a new precedent for urban local body elections in the region.
