BJP Retains Chandigarh Mayor’s Post Amid Opposition Split

Congress–AAP failure to unite hands clear win to Saurabh Joshi

January 29, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained control of the Chandigarh mayoral office with its candidate Saurabh Joshi winning the election comfortably. Backed by disciplined party voting, Joshi secured all 18 votes from BJP councillors, underscoring the party’s organisational strength and unity in the Municipal Corporation. The result came despite intense political focus on the contest, which was seen as a test of opposition coordination.

The outcome was largely shaped by the fractured opposition, as the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) failed to come together to challenge the BJP. Congress chose to field its own candidate, Gurpreet, who received seven votes, while AAP’s Yogesh Dhingra secured 11 votes. The split in opposition votes dashed expectations of a last-minute understanding between the two parties that could have blocked a BJP victory.

The mayoral election also exposed signs of internal strain within AAP, with differing views on strategy against the BJP coming to the fore. While there was no cross-voting that altered party tallies, the lack of a unified opposition approach ultimately ensured the BJP’s smooth win and continued hold over the Chandigarh mayor’s post.