In Mohali civic polls, redrawing of boundaries may alter electoral equations; Congress accuses AAP of bias

The Punjab government recently finalised a major expansion of the Mohali Municipal Corporation boundaries, merging 15 adjoining villages into the corporation’s limits. Questions have been raised about the structure of the new wards, with plans reportedly to merge certain phases while splitting others, which could disrupt existing political equations.

Congress leaders allege that the boundaries are being redrawn to give the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in Punjab, a clear advantage in the upcoming municipal elections. They claim that the ward delimitation is being “manipulated” for political gain rather than being carried out as a neutral administrative exercise.

Although the committee tasked with preparing the ward delimitation includes two councillors from the ruling group, along with the mayor, the Opposition maintains that the government and the sitting MLA are dictating the final decisions. According to Congress leaders, the entire process is unfair and proceeding under political pressure.

The proposed delimitation has also heightened concerns among several sitting and former councillors, many of whom may find it difficult to contest elections under the new arrangement. With existing ward boundaries likely to be dissolved or drastically altered, these leaders would be forced to establish political influence in entirely new areas. Signs of dissatisfaction among councillors have already begun to surface.

On the other hand, legislators from the ruling AAP argue that with the municipal corporation’s area having expanded significantly while the number of wards remains capped at 50, an increase in size is inevitable. They maintain that, under such circumstances, even older phases could be logically constituted as single wards.

Political observers believe that the controversy surrounding ward delimitation will deepen as municipal elections draw closer. While the Congress is preparing to project the issue as a major political weapon, the AAP continues to describe the exercise as a routine administrative process. In the coming days, the ward delimitation issue is expected to heat up Mohali’s political landscape further.

In the 2021 civic poll in Mohali, the Congress won a thumping majority, securing 37 of 50 seats.