BJP walks out of Shimla MC session, calls presentation of budget ‘invalid’

The session of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) began on a stormy note on Friday as BJP councillors disrupted proceedings, objecting to Mayor Surinder Chauhan presenting the annual budget. The opposition alleged that the Mayor is not constitutionally authorised to table the budget since a formal notification extending his tenure has not yet been issued by the state government.

Raising slogans inside the House, BJP councillors declared the budget “invalid” and demanded Chauhan’s resignation on moral grounds. They maintained that as per the reservation roster, the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the SMC carry a tenure of two-and-a-half years. According to them, the ordinance that enabled extension of the Mayor’s term expired on January 6 and in the absence of a fresh notification, the Mayor’s position is “technically vacant”.

Despite the uproar, the Mayor proceeded with his budget speech, prompting BJP councillors to stage a walkout. Speaking to mediapersons outside the House, they argued that the extension of tenure has not been legally formalised. “As per the roster, the seat is vacant. Without an official extension, the Mayor has no authority to present the budget,” they said.

The opposition also criticised the financial condition of the civic body, alleging that several development works proposed by BJP councillors have not been executed. They questioned the rationale of presenting a budget when the corporation is burdened with debt and struggling with limited revenue sources. Later, the BJP councillors met Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and submitted a memorandum, seeking intervention in the matter.

Hitting back, Chauhan accused the BJP of politicising the issue and shirking its responsibility. He said the walkout reflected the opposition’s lack of seriousness towards city development. “They have betrayed the people who elected them by prioritising political interests over public service,” he said. The Mayor further pointed out that BJP councillors had themselves approached the High Court over the tenure issue and were now protesting while the matter remains sub judice.

The controversy stems from developments over the past few months. In 2025, the state government granted an extension to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor beyond the original two-and-a-half-year term. During the winter session of the Assembly in December, an ordinance was passed to formalise the extension but was returned by the Governor for reconsideration. Subsequently, the government reintroduced and passed the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill during the Budget session on February 16, seeking to regularise the extended terms.