Chaos in MC meet: AAP councillors marshalled out as transfer of V3 roads gets House nod

Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi, however, raised objections. He said the transfer could only be considered if the mayor gave a written undertaking ensuring that employees of the B&R (Buildings and Roads) wing would not lose their jobs. He demanded that once the repair and construction work was completed, the V3 roads must be handed back to the MC within six to nine months.

Mayor Babla countered these objections, accusing the Opposition of politicising development. “Don’t you want the roads to be constructed? Why are you doing politics? While you are busy planting lotuses in potholes, you are not supporting an agenda that will actually allow roads to be repaired,” she said, taking a dig at the Congress’s recent protests.

The mayor reminded councillors that community centres too had once been transferred to the Administration and similarly the V3 roads could too be brought back once MC’s financial health improved. “The same will happen with V3 roads,” she assured, adding that a resolution could later be passed to reclaim them.

“I just want the city roads to be in better condition,” added Mayor Babla.

Despite the clarifications, both AAP and Congress councillors continued to demand voting on the issue. With 15 members in opposition (10 AAP, 5 Congress) against BJP’s 14, the numbers appeared against the treasury benches. However, before voting could take place, arguments spiralled into noisy disruptions, prompting the mayor to intervene.

Arguments between AAP-Congress and BJP councillors during MC house meeting on Tuesday in Chandigarh (Express/Kamleshwar Singh)

Calling the situation “a disturbance to the decorum of the House,” Mayor Babla ordered MC marshals — both male and female — to enter the House. What followed was a scene rarely witnessed in Chandigarh’s civic body: AAP councillors, including Yogesh Dhingra and Damanpreet Singh, were physically escorted out after brief scuffles with marshals. Women councillors Jaswinder Kaur (Leader of Opposition), Suman, Anju Katiyar, and Prem Lata were also ‘forcibly’ led out.

Congress councillors, objecting to the manner in which the AAP members were removed, soon staged a walkout themselves. With the Opposition absent, the agenda to transfer V3 roads to the Chandigarh Administration was passed amid loud protests outside.

The ruckus has further widened the divide between BJP and the Opposition in the MC House, with AAP accusing the Mayor of “muzzling dissent” and Congress warning of an attempt to weaken MC financially.

Speaking outside the MC House, the mayor said, “What could be more shameful than the Congress-AAP alliance’s blatant opposition to recarperting of V3 roads? Their actions prove they are more interested in playing politics than serving the people of Chandigarh.”

Opposition stages protest outside Mayor’s room, declares V3 Roads resolution ‘illegal’

Moments after being marshalled out of the Municipal Corporation (MC) House, AAP and Congress councillors staged a sit-in protest outside the Mayor’s office, raising slogans against the passage of the V3 roads transfer agenda. The Opposition termed the resolution “illegal,” submitting a formal objection letter to the House Secretary demanding that the proceedings be annulled.

In their letter, signed by Opposition councillors, it was alleged that the rules and provisions of the MC Act were violated while passing the resolution. The councillors pointed out that their demand for voting was ignored, and the agenda was hurriedly cleared after the Opposition members were forcibly evicted. “All this happened in your presence and you remained a mute spectator,” the councillors wrote to the secretary, accusing the Mayor of manipulating the process.

The Opposition claimed that the ruling BJP deliberately threw them out to pass the resolution and accused the party of working hand in glove with the Administration.

Earlier in the day, sources said that during the lunch break, a meeting was held in the Senior Deputy Mayor’s office where an attempt was made to evolve a consensus between party leaders. AAP’s Vijaypal Singh, Congress’s H S Lucky, and BJP vice-president Devinder Singh Babla reportedly discussed a compromise formula under which V3 roads could be transferred to the Administration for just one year, ensuring repair work did not stall. However, when the matter reached the House, the fragile consensus collapsed.

Congress backs city’s development, demands safeguards for MC

The Chandigarh Congress on Tuesday reiterated its support for the city’s development while warning against attempts to weaken the Municipal Corporation (MC).

Party president H S Lucky said Congress fully supports the recarpeting and repair of V3 roads but insisted they must be returned to the MC within six months of transfer to the Administration.

Lucky alleged that vested interests were trying to paralyse the MC and push the city back to pre-1994 days when no elected body existed. He termed the BJP’s conduct in the House “undemocratic,” accusing it of undermining Opposition councillors.

The Congress has also pressed for a five-year mayoral term, transfer of more powers to MC, and allocation of 30 per cent Delhi Finance Commission funds to strengthen city governance. Lucky said the party will continue to back Chandigarh’s development while safeguarding its democratic institutions.

AAP slams BJP over V3 roads agenda, calls it ‘murder of democracy’

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lashed out at the BJP after Opposition councillors were forcibly removed from the MC House during the passage of the V3 roads transfer agenda.

AAP Chandigarh president Vijaypal Singh termed it a “black day for democracy”, alleging that elected representatives were silenced to bulldoze BJP’s decision.

Party leaders accused the BJP of adopting a dictatorial approach by denying fair discussion and ignoring public priorities.

State media in-charge Vikrant A Tanwar said residents needed urgent repairs of V6 internal roads, not political drama. AAP vowed to intensify protests, demanding funds and autonomy for the Municipal Corporation.

What happens next after V3 roads agenda passed by House

With the Municipal Corporation approving the transfer of V3 roads to the UT Engineering Department, the responsibility for upkeep and recarpeting of nearly 275 km of city’s arterial roads now shifts to the Administration. The UT Engineering Department will plan and execute resurfacing, including 150 km due for recarpeting in 2025-26 at a cost of about Rs 45 crore. The move relieves the cash-strapped MC of a major financial burden, enabling it to focus on V4, V5, and V6 roads within its jurisdiction.

CFORWO welcomes MC decision on V3 Roads

The City Forum of Residents’ Welfare Organisation (CFORWO) has welcomed the Municipal Corporation’s decision to transfer the upkeep of V3 roads to the UT Engineering Department.

Convener Vinod Vashisht said this move will allow the financially constrained MC to focus on improving V4, V5, and V6 roads with better quality works. He added that since most open spaces are under MC’s control, the next corporation should also seek transfer of Sector 17 parade and exhibition ground from the Administration to generate exhibition rental revenue.