Six Days to Go for Chandigarh Mayor Election: Will Congress and AAP Join Hands Again Against BJP?

Chandigarh: With just six days remaining for the Chandigarh mayoral election scheduled on January 29, political activity has intensified in the Union Territory. The key question dominating political circles is whether Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will once again come together to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is aiming to retain control of the mayor’s post.

Currently, the mayor’s chair is held by the BJP, while the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor are with Congress. As the election date approaches, backchannel discussions and strategic calculations have picked up pace among opposition parties.

The BJP has deployed its trusted national general secretary Vinod Tawde to manage the party’s campaign and ensure that it retains the mayoral position. On the other hand, speculation is rife over a possible Congress–AAP understanding to stop the BJP’s march.

A Politically Charged Background

The Chandigarh mayoral election has remained controversial in recent years. The earlier election was marred by alleged irregularities by presiding officer Anil Masih, leading to the matter reaching the Supreme Court and turning into a national political issue. A re-election had then resulted in an AAP victory, though the mayor’s post eventually went to the BJP.

Alliance Talks Underway?

Sources indicate that Congress and AAP are exploring options to prevent the BJP from retaining the mayor’s post. Chandigarh Congress president Harmohinder Singh Lucky confirmed that while no formal alliance has been announced, discussions are ongoing.

“There is no official alliance yet, but talks are underway to stop the BJP. A high-level meeting with senior party leadership will be held soon to finalize the strategy,” he said.

AAP has appointed Jarnail Singh as its Chandigarh in-charge, while Congress continues to hold political influence in the city, having won the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, represented by MP Manish Tewari.

The Numbers Game

The arithmetic inside the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation makes the contest extremely tight:

• BJP: 18 councillors (after two AAP councillors switched sides)
• AAP: 11 councillors
• Congress: 6 councillors

Including the ex-officio vote of the Congress MP, a united Congress–AAP front could reach 18 votes. However, to win the mayor’s post, a candidate requires a simple majority of 19 votes, assuming all 36 votes (including the MP) are cast.

This razor-thin margin means even a single defection or cross-vote could decisively alter the outcome.

High-Stakes Political Battle Ahead

In the 2024 civic elections, AAP had secured the mayor’s post, while BJP won the Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor positions. The situation reversed in 2025, when BJP’s Harpreet Babla became mayor, and Congress captured both deputy posts—leaving AAP empty-handed.

With shifting loyalties, fragile numbers, and intense behind-the-scenes negotiations, the 2026 Chandigarh mayoral election is shaping up to be a high-voltage political showdown, with all eyes on whether opposition unity can stop the BJP or if the ruling party will once again defy the odds.