BJP mayoral win, paddy scam marked year

As 2025 draws to a close, it has been anything but quiet for Karnal. The year was marked by electoral dominance, national recognition, paddy scams, unfinished promises and a mix of governance strengths and strains in one of Haryana’s most politically-charged districts.

The BJP retained control of the Karnal Municipal Corporation mayoral polls, making history as Renu Bala Gupta secured the Mayor’s post for a third consecutive term, cementing her status as the city’s most dominant civic leader in recent years. She trounced Congress candidate Manoj Wadhwa by a massive 25,359-vote margin, polling 83,630 votes to Wadhwa’s 58,271 out of 1.47 lakh total votes. Despite Congress’s aggressive campaign, the BJP’s organisational strength and Gupta’s voter base proved decisive.

Civic governance shone brightly when Karnal ranked third nationally in the ‘Swachh Shehar’ category (population 50,000–3 lakh) in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, becoming Haryana’s first city to receive the award from President Droupadi Murmu. The city scored 11,067 out of 12,500, earned a 3-star Garbage-Free City rating, and achieved Water Plus status — up from 115th in 2023. On Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s call, the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) initiative paired Karnal with five smaller bodies — Siwan, Ismailabad, Narnaund, Kalanwali, and Rajound — transforming it from performer to mentor in urban hygiene.

The paddy procurement scam cast the year’s darkest shadow. Investigations exposed a full-blown fraud involving ghost procurement, fake gate passes, inflated records, and payments for non-existent crops. Six FIRs led to arrests of six employees and millers. Shocking farmer statements revealed payments exceeding ‘kachi parchis’ records, with some admitting pressure to return excess cash to arhtiyas, exposing deep

procurement vulnerabilities.

Healthcare tensions simmered as doctors’ strikes disrupted services. In December, Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) members remained on strike for four days, prompting ESMA invocation. OPDs continued with backups, but diagnostics and surgeries suffered, leaving patients anxious. Demands included halting direct SMO recruitment and implementing modified Assured Career Progression (ACP). After talks, doctors resumed work. It was decided that any amendments to service rules, including the proposal to discontinue direct recruitment of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs), would be taken up only after reviewing the policies of other states.

A standoff between the Haryana Government and Ayushman Bharat-empanelled private hospitals worsened the crisis. Citing unpaid dues, hospitals halted treatment for cardholders in March and August, overloading public facilities.

Paperless land registration rolled out in November for greater transparency and efficiency, though early glitches drew criticism before smoothing out. Youth faced heartbreak with US deportations in February and October, returning in chains and shackles, burdened by loans for risky ‘donkey’ routes that shattered dreams and families.

Crime headlines rattled residents—extortion firings, targeted attacks shook confidence, though police earned praise in some responses. A brazen daytime dacoity in Subhash Colony alarmed locals, but swift action led to all arrests and recovery of jewellery and cash.

Civic woes like stray dogs, monkey menace, stray cattle, waterlogging, and drainage failures dominated discourse. Sports fans await Karna Stadium’s redevelopment under Smart City Mission, delayed after the contractor abandoned work midway last year; Karnal Smart City Ltd has penalised the agency for failing to complete the work on time. Congress bolstered its base by appointing urban and rural district-level residents, raising grassroots hopes.

Karnal farmers led by example, slashing stubble-burning cases to 18 this year from 90 in 2024, 120 in 2023, 296 in 2022, and 935 in 2021.

Land identified for Namo Bharat Corridor

On December 10, Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh reviewed the Namo Bharat Corridor (Rapid Metro), also known as Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) corridor from Delhi to Karnal, project. Under the 136-km-long corridor, five metro stations will be established in Karnal. Land has been identified, promising economic growth with five Karnal stations, plus parking and facilities. Smart City projects like an old-age home, working women’s hostel, library, commercial complex, and badminton hall near completion.