A fresh wave of political contention has emerged in Punjab, with activists and leaders from various parties voicing strong objections to the ongoing process of ward delimitation and changes to the reservation roster. This comes ahead of the crucial elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), scheduled for February 2026, covering over 100 municipal councils and corporations.
Allegations of Manipulation in Bathinda and Barnala
In Bathinda, district Congress president Rajan Garg has leveled serious allegations regarding the delimitation exercise. He pointed out that as per the 2011 census, Bathinda's population was 287,000. According to norms, any city with a population exceeding 350,000 requires an increase in the number of wards. Using a standard annual population growth rate of 1.6%, the estimated current population should surpass this threshold. However, Garg claims the estimated figure has been recorded at 347,000, allegedly to avoid adding more wards.
He further accused the ruling party of manipulating the reservation roster, stating it does not reflect the actual population of reserved categories in their respective wards but rather the "choices of the ruling party leaders."
Similar disputes have surfaced in Barnala, which was recently upgraded from a municipal council to a municipal corporation. The number of wards is set to increase from 31 to 50. However, leaders from both the Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress have criticized the newly issued delimitation notification. Former municipal council president Sanjiv Shorey (SAD) and Congress leader Mahesh Lota, in separate statements, argued that the delimitation ignores ground realities. They claim certain wards have been illogically bifurcated, breaking geographical continuity, and have vowed to raise formal objections.
Residents in Mansa Join the Protest
The discontent is not limited to political circles. In Mansa, residents convened a meeting on Saturday to voice their grievances regarding the delimitation of wards for the Mansa Municipal Council. Led by resident Manik Goyal, the community highlighted the practical difficulties caused by the changes.
The logistical reshuffling of ward boundaries forces numerous residents to update official documents, such as passports, where the ward number is part of the address. This process is seen as a significant public inconvenience. Echoing the sentiments of political leaders, the residents allege that the delimitation in Mansa was also conducted according to the directives of ruling party leaders, not based on factual ground conditions. They have decided to formally approach the deputy commissioner and municipal authorities with their objections.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 ULB Elections
With the elections to Urban Local Bodies still two years away, these early disputes over delimitation and reservation set the stage for a highly charged political contest. The core issues revolve around:
- Transparency in the delimitation process and adherence to demographic data.
- Fair implementation of reservation rosters for various categories.
- The practical impact on citizens facing administrative hurdles due to boundary changes.
The objections raised in Bathinda, Barnala, and Mansa indicate that the road to the 2026 ULB polls in Punjab may be paved with intense debate and legal challenges concerning the very foundation of electoral wards.
