BJP’s Harpreet Kaur Babla wins Chandigarh mayoral elections, defeats AAP-Congress alliance

BJP’s Harpreet Kaur Babla wins Chandigarh Mayor elections 2025 with 19 votes

Harpreet Kaur Babla of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in the Chandigarh mayoral elections, securing 19 votes against the 17 votes of the AAP-Congress alliance. Babla defeated Prem Lata of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a closely contested election.

The election took place in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Assembly Hall, with voting starting at 11:20 AM and concluding by 12:19 PM.

Seat distribution before the election

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation consists of 35 members, including elected councillors and the Chandigarh MP, who has voting rights as an ex-officio member. The seat distribution before the election was:

The election results unfolded with AAP and Congress securing a combined 17 votes, leaving them just short of victory. Harpreet Kaur Babla’s win also shows the strategic impact of cross-voting, which played a crucial role in tipping the scales in her favour.

BJP retains control over Chandigarh mayoral position

The Chandigarh mayoral elections also included polls for the positions of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. The mayor serves a one-year term, and this year, the seat was reserved for a woman councillor.

With this victory, BJP continues its hold on the Chandigarh mayoral position, strengthening its political dominance in the city.

Who is Harpreet Kaur Babla?

Harpreet Kaur Babla, 60, has been elected as the new Mayor of Chandigarh, securing 19 votes in a closely contested election. A two-time councillor, she is the wife of former councillor Devinder Singh Babla and the daughter of a retired Army Colonel. Harpreet is an alumna of the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Dehradun, and holds a BA (Hons) in History and an MA in English.

Chandigarh Mayor faces corruption charges

A dramatic turn of events preceded the election, as Chandigarh Police booked AAP Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor and his brother-in-law Rahul on cheating and corruption charges just hours before the polls.

However, on Thursday morning, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted anticipatory bail to Dhalor, allowing him to participate in the voting process.

Congress-AAP alliance shows strain

Tensions have surfaced within the Congress-AAP alliance, which was formed to counter BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Punjab Congress unit expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s decision to align with AAP in the Chandigarh mayoral elections.

This internal discord mirrors the stance of the Delhi Congress, which has decided to contest the Delhi Assembly elections independently, signaling a growing rift between the two allies.

BJP’s victory in the Chandigarh mayoral race marks a significant political development, reinforcing its stronghold ahead of the upcoming national elections.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post BJP’s Harpreet Kaur Babla wins Chandigarh mayoral elections, defeats AAP-Congress alliance appeared first on PGurus.