The BJP has hit back at opposition parties over their criticism of the Centre’s move to bring Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution through the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The bill, set to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament starting December 1, would empower the President to make regulations for the Union Territory and potentially appoint an independent administrator, echoing arrangements from the past.
BJP leaders, including MP Praveen Khandelwal and former MP RP Singh, described opposition outrage as “politically manufactured” and accused parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress of spreading misinformation to gain relevance ahead of the parliamentary session.
Khandelwal said granting Chandigarh full Union Territory status would accelerate development by allowing the Centre to bring in funds and execute projects more efficiently. He added that under Punjab’s current administration, investors had faced uncertainty, which could now be resolved.
Meanwhile, Singh noted that the Governor of Punjab would continue as the Lieutenant Governor of Chandigarh, dismissing claims that the amendment undermines the state’s control.
“Leaders opposing this move are doing so merely for political theatrics,” Singh said, challenging opposition parties to debate the issue publicly rather than spreading confusion.
The latest proposal has sparked strong reactions from Punjab political leaders.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the move, calling it an attempt to “snatch” Chandigarh from the state and reaffirming that Chandigarh “was, is and will always remain an integral part of Punjab.”
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal described the bill as an “anti-Punjab assault” on the federal structure and announced an emergency meeting of the party’s Core Committee to plan a response. SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema has also termed the proposal a “conspiracy against Punjab” and confirmed that senior constitutional experts would be consulted to challenge the move legally.
In Delhi, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said the amendment was a “direct attack on Punjab’s identity and constitutional rights,” asserting that the federal structure was being undermined. Congress leaders, including Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and MLA Pargat Singh, warned that any attempt to dilute Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh would face strong opposition in Parliament and through public mobilisation.
SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal echoed the criticism, calling the proposed amendment a “violation of Punjab’s rights” and pledging to oppose it in the upcoming session.
Chandigarh has served as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana since the state’s reorganisation in 1966.
Historically, the UT was administered independently by a chief secretary, but since June 1984, the Punjab governor has held the role of Administrator, with the chief secretary acting as an adviser. A similar proposal in 2016 to restore independent administration was withdrawn following opposition from multiple parties, including Congress, SAD, and AAP.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill seeks to place Chandigarh under Article 240, aligning it with other Union Territories without legislatures, such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Opposition leaders, however, argue that the move would further diminish Punjab’s administrative stake and political influence over its historical capital.
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