The recently announced redrawing of municipal ward boundaries in Mohali has erupted into a full-blown political controversy. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faces fierce allegations from the Congress, BJP, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of orchestrating the ward delimitation, or 'wardbandi', to sabotage opposition strength and consolidate its own position before the upcoming municipal corporation elections.
Opposition Alleges Deliberate Sabotage
Leading the charge, the Congress party has launched a scathing attack, accusing the AAP government of employing a 'divide and rule' tactic. Senior Congress figures claim the new demarcation is a calculated move to create internal strife within their ranks. A primary point of contention is the clubbing of three sitting Congress councillors into a single ward, a move they say is designed to force them to compete against each other.
Mohali Mayor Amarjeet Sidhu did not mince words, stating that the AAP government, led by local MLA Kulwant Singh, is prioritizing vested interests over public service. "The AAP govt has once again proved that it is not pro-people," Sidhu said. He argued that forcing councillors to contest outside their traditional wards weakens their position and directly benefits the AAP.
Deputy Mayor Kuljit Bedi echoed these sentiments, alleging the entire exercise was tailored to favour AAP councillors and intimidate those from other parties. "This wardbandi has been done to scare away councillors of other parties," Bedi asserted, vowing a political fightback.
Adding another layer to the criticism, former councillor Raja Kanwarjot labeled the delimitation 'faulty'. He raised questions over the reservation of wards, claiming that several areas declared as Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved are located in affluent sectors with a negligible SC population, making the reservation unjust.
BJP and SAD Join the Fray, AAP Defends
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also leveled serious accusations, focusing on a lack of transparency in the process. BJP leader Sanjeev Vashisht criticized the AAP for conducting the delimitation "very secretly," alleging a dictatorial attitude for not inviting opposition leaders to consultation meetings.
Similarly, the SAD registered its formal objections. A party delegation, led by leader Parvinder Singh Sohana and supported by former councillor Harmanpreet Singh Prince, met with municipal corporation officials to submit their concerns regarding the new ward boundaries.
In defense, AAP MLA Kulwant Singh outright rejected all allegations. He maintained that the ward demarcation was carried out fairly and transparently to correct flaws from the previous delimitation. "There is no conflict in the new wardbandi. If any imbalance existed earlier, it has been removed," Singh stated.
Key Changes and What Happens Next
The new delimitation keeps the total number of wards in Mohali at 50, though the geographical area of each ward has been increased. The reservation structure has seen a significant reshuffle:
- 20 General wards
- 22 wards reserved for Women
- 2 Backward Class (BC) wards
- 3 Scheduled Caste (SC) wards
- 3 wards reserved for SC Women
This marks a change from the 2021 municipal elections, which had 25 wards reserved for women (including 2 for SC women), 20 general, 3 SC, and 2 BC wards.
The state government has issued a provisional notification and is currently inviting objections from the public. The final notification is anticipated by the end of this month. Political observers note that this reshuffle has effectively disrupted traditional vote banks, compelling all political parties in Mohali to recalibrate their electoral strategies for the impending polls.
