The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a significant political blow in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation after two of its councillors, Suman Devi and Poonam Devi, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The development comes just weeks before the mayoral election scheduled for January 2026 and has altered the power balance within the civic body.
With the induction of the two councillors, the BJP’s strength in the 35-member Municipal Corporation has risen to 18, bringing it within striking distance of a majority. AAP’s tally, on the other hand, has dropped from 13 to 11, weakening its position at a crucial time. The Congress continues to hold six seats, and the city’s lone Member of Parliament, Manish Tewari, also has voting rights in the mayoral election.
Political observers see the switch as a major setback for AAP, which had been hoping to consolidate its position in the corporation ahead of the mayoral contest. The timing of the move has intensified speculation about shifting alliances and strategic calculations in the run-up to the election.
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has witnessed intense political competition over the past few years, particularly during mayoral elections. In the previous mayoral polls held in January 2025, the BJP managed to secure victory despite not having a clear numerical advantage at the outset. BJP candidate Harpreet Kaur Babla defeated the joint AAP–Congress nominee Prem Lata, securing 19 votes against 17. The majority mark in the House stands at 19, making every vote critical.
The latest development significantly strengthens the BJP’s prospects, as it now stands just one vote short of the majority threshold. With 18 councillors already on its side, the party appears better positioned than before to influence the outcome of the upcoming mayoral election.
For AAP, the departure of two councillors raises concerns about internal cohesion and political stability within the party’s municipal unit. The party leadership is expected to reassess its strategy in Chandigarh, especially as the mayoral election draws closer and political maneuvering intensifies.
As January approaches, the focus will now be on whether further shifts occur within the corporation and how opposition parties respond to the BJP’s growing numerical advantage. The evolving “numbers game” in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is likely to keep the city’s political landscape on edge in the weeks ahead.
