The central government’s intention to introduce a new law that could alter Chandigarh’s administrative setup has triggered widespread anger and strong opposition from Punjab’s political landscape. The proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025, scheduled for presentation during the winter parliamentary session beginning December 1, 2025, seeks to include Chandigarh under Article 240. This constitutional provision empowers the President to directly legislate and make regulations for Union Territories, potentially paving the way for an independent administrator, a role previously held by a chief secretary. Political leaders across Punjab have voiced their strong disapproval. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared that the move by the BJP government was an attempt to ‘snatch’ Punjab’s capital and affirmed that Chandigarh’s status as an integral part of Punjab is undeniable. He stressed Punjab’s inherent right to its capital. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring characterized the proposal as unnecessary and warned of severe consequences, stating unequivocally that ‘Chandigarh belongs to Punjab.’ He pledged parliamentary opposition and urged the Punjab unit of the BJP to clarify its stance, while also calling on the Chief Minister to resolve the issue at its inception. Sukhbir Singh Badal, chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal, denounced the bill as a ‘betrayal’ of promises and a direct ‘assault on Punjab’s rights,’ aimed at stripping the Union Territory of Punjab’s administrative and political dominion. He emphasized that this legislation undermines Punjab’s claim to Chandigarh as its capital. AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney appealed to all parliamentarians from Punjab to jointly approach the Union Home Minister, underscoring the historical context of Chandigarh’s establishment as Punjab’s capital post-partition and subsequent reorganization.
