Chandigarh Power Privatized, BJP Wins Mayoral Chandigarh Election

Chandigarh’s electricity department is transitioning to private control. Kolkata-based Eminent Electricity Distribution Limited (EEDL), part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, deposited USD 100M, completing a deal initially set in motion in November 2020. The Union Territory (UT) Administration confirmed the handover for the first week of February, transferring assets such as offices, a control room, and distribution networks. Employees, numbering around 1,100 including outsourced staff, have protested vigorously, demanding a formal policy to safeguard service conditions. Invoking the East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act and later the Haryana Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, the administration filed two First Information Reports against protesters. The new private operator promises modern infrastructure, reliable power, and employee protections, while officials from Panjab and Haryana remain on standby to avert disruptions if workers strike. UT officials assured that the newly established Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited would upgrade networks, uphold staff terms, and deploy advanced digital systems to ensure no disruption in electricity supply. Meanwhile, Chandigarh’s political landscape witnessed upheaval when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Harpreet Kaur Babla was elected mayor, defeating the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Indian National Congress (INC) alliance. Despite the alliance appearing to command 19 votes in the 35-member corporation, at least three cross-votes swung the result 19–17 for the BJP, revealing internal fissures among the alliance partners. Babla’s victory ousted outgoing AAP Mayor Kuldeep Kumar, who had taken office after the Supreme Court of India overturned earlier polling. INC councillor Gurbax Rawat’s defection to the BJP further bolstered the party’s strength. Post-election, while INC was ‘deeply saddened,’ they congratulated their successful candidates for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor positions. AAP promised to take the cross-voting matter to Chandigarh residents and counter what they called the BJP’s ‘dirty politics.’