Former mayor of Panchkula Municipal Corporation Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia today quit the Congress to join the BJP, ahead of the May 10 civic body elections.
Ahluwalia formally joined the BJP in the presence senior leaders who welcomed her into the fold and said that her experience and voter base would strengthen the party.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini arrived at her residence for the welcome ceremony. BJP state president Mohan Lal Badoli, Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma, BJP’s mayoral candidate from Panchkula Shyam Lal Bansal and district president Ajay Mittal were present.
Ahluwalia, the first woman Mayor of Panchkula, said, “I am inspired by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, CM Nayab Singh Saini, and BJP’s development-oriented policies. In my four-decade political journey — from sarpanch to mayor — I have worked at the grass-roots level with integrity. Now, I want to take public service to new heights.”
Considered as a close confidant of Sirsa MP Kumai Selja, she apparently fell out of favour with senior state leadership and high command recently issued a showcause notice by Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee for anti-party activities during 2024 polls after former Deputy CM Chandermohan filed a complaint against them.
Congress leaders, meanwhile, played down Ahluwalia’s departure claiming that such coming and going do not make much difference to the party.
In reply, Ahluwalia, who has served as Sarpanch, Zila Parishad Member, Municipal Council Member and Mayor of Panchkula from 2013 to 2018, alleged that Congress leader Chandermohan had consistently worked against her, even during elections where she was the official Congress candidate, referring to the 2020 mayoral election.
She also cited the elections of 2008, 2013 and 2020, alleging a repeated pattern of efforts to undermine her support base. Ahluwalia denied allegations of anti-party activities in the 2024 elections.
