Nabha Municipal Council Leadership Crisis Deepens in Patiala
The Nabha municipal council in Patiala district continues to operate without a formal head after the term of its second officiating president, Jasdeep Khanna, concluded on January 20. This development marks the third time in less than five months that the crucial administrative position has fallen vacant, creating significant governance challenges for the local body.
Origins of the Administrative Disarray
The council's governance structure began unraveling in September last year when its regular president, Sujata Chawla, proceeded on an indefinite leave of absence. This decision followed a major controversy involving her husband, Pankaj Pappu, who faced serious allegations of orchestrating the theft of tractor-trailers from farmer protest sites at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Pappu, who is currently out on bail, has consistently denied these accusations.
Following Sujata Chawla's departure, two senior council members temporarily assumed the presidential responsibilities. Amarjit Kaur Sahni, the senior vice-president, took charge in September 2025 but reportedly resigned just two months later amid mounting political pressure. This period coincided with the escalation of the controversy surrounding Pappu's alleged involvement in the tractor-trailer thefts.
Escalating Controversies and Investigations
The situation grew more complex when stolen trailer parts were recovered from a private plot allegedly belonging to Pankaj Pappu after farmers staged protests in the area. Pappu maintained that the recovered components actually belonged to the municipal council's garbage collection tractor-trailers that were scheduled for repair.
In a dramatic turn of events in November 2025, Patiala Police conducted an excavation operation at the official residence of the municipal council's executive officer. Using a JCB machine, authorities unearthed buried tires, rims, and hooks from the property. The executive officer subsequently issued an open letter clarifying that while the house was registered in his name, he did not reside there. He further alleged that Pappu had been utilizing the government premises for political party activities.
Political Fallout and Administrative Paralysis
The accumulating controversies created significant embarrassment for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. The situation prompted intense protests by farmer unions and led to a proposed no-confidence motion that garnered support from 18 out of 23 municipal councillors.
In response to the mounting pressure, the Punjab unit of AAP suspended both Sujata Chawla and Pankaj Pappu from the party in November 2025. Despite this disciplinary action, Sujata Chawla technically remains the "on-leave" president of the Nabha municipal council, as no formal resignation has been processed by the local government department.
Attempts to contact Ishmit Vijay Singh, additional deputy commissioner of Patiala and officiating SDM of Nabha, for comments on the ongoing administrative crisis proved unsuccessful despite repeated efforts.
The prolonged leadership vacuum has created operational challenges for the municipal council, affecting decision-making processes and potentially delaying important civic projects and services for residents of the Nabha area in Patiala district.
