Fresh setback to Amritsar Congress as two party councillors join AAP

In a fresh setback to the Congress, two of its councillors, Shivani from Ward No.79 and Dr Avtar Singh from Ward No. 72, quit the party and joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Chandigarh. They were formally inducted into the party in the presence of Punjab AAP chief Aman Arora and Amritsar Mayor Moti Bhatia.

Both councillors said they were impressed by the “pro-people policies” of AAP, while Aman Arora claimed their decision reflected the growing trust of people’s representatives in the party.

The development is being seen as a blow to the Congress, which had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking the removal of Mayor Jitender Singh Moti Bhatia, alleging irregularities in the mayoral election. Congress leaders argued that despite having a majority, the party was denied the mayor’s post through alleged collusion between AAP and officials. With two councillors crossing over, the Congress’s strength has further dwindled, making it difficult for the party to prove its majority in the court.

The results of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections had thrown up a fractured mandate. Of the 85 wards, Congress had won the highest number with 40 councillors, while AAP secured 24, BJP 9, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) 4, and Independents 8. Despite the Congress emerging as the single largest party, AAP’s Jitender Singh Moti Bhatia was declared Mayor on January 27 with Priyanka Sharma as Senior Deputy Mayor and Anita Rani as Deputy Mayor.

The Congress had alleged foul play in the election process. With the latest defections, the Congress’s numerical edge has diminished, potentially altering the legal and political battle over control of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation.