Centre Backtracks on Chandigarh Constitutional Amendment After Punjab BJP Opposition
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a significant clarification on Sunday regarding the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025, stating that the government has no intention of introducing any Bill to include Chandigarh in Article 240 of the Constitution during the upcoming Parliament session.
This clarification came hours after the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held an emergency core committee meeting and unanimously resolved to protect Punjab's interests, joining other political parties in the state opposing the proposed amendment.
Political Pressure Forces Government Rethink
The Centre's statement, describing the proposal as still under consideration, followed intense political pressure from within its own ranks. According to sources, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar spoke directly with Union Home Minister Amit Shah late Saturday to convey the state unit's concerns about the sensitive matter.
State BJP general secretary Anil Sarin confirmed the sequence of events, stating: On Sunday, the core committee of the Punjab BJP held a virtual meeting and conveyed their opposition to the MHA after which the Ministry issued a clarification. We stand fully committed to Punjab's interests.
Why Chandigarh Remains an Emotional Issue for Punjab
The proposed Bill sought to include the Union Territory of Chandigarh in Article 240 of the Constitution, which would align its governance structure with other Union Territories without legislatures. This would have empowered the President to make regulations directly for Chandigarh and potentially appoint an independent Administrator.
Punjab political parties viewed this as a move that would weaken the state's historical claim to the city that serves as the capital for both Punjab and Haryana. Since 1984, the Governor of Punjab has concurrently served as the Administrator of Chandigarh, maintaining the state's symbolic connection to the territory.
Sunil Jakhar welcomed the MHA's clarification, emphasizing that Chandigarh is an emotional issue for Punjabis. These emotions cannot be ignored. Our resolve to uphold Punjab's structural framework is unshakable.
Broader Context of Centre-State Tensions
This controversy occurs against the backdrop of several recent conflicts between Punjab and the Central government, including:
- The Panjab University governance restructuring proposal that was eventually withdrawn
- Deployment of Central paramilitary forces at BBMB projects
- Disagreements over flood-related assistance
BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal drew parallels with the Panjab University issue, noting: We are happy the matter was clarified just like the Panjab University issue was.
The timing is particularly sensitive for the BJP as the party attempts to rebuild its support base in Punjab following the farm law protests. The party is preparing to contest the upcoming Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections independently, making such sensitive territorial issues potentially damaging to their electoral prospects.
Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Kumar Sharma framed the positive outcome as reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's affection for the state, while assuring that the state unit would continue to engage with the Centre to ensure pro-Punjab solutions.
