AAP's Praveen Sharma elected new Mayor of Moga
The mayoral seat had been vacant following the unceremonious removal of Baljit Singh Chani on November 27, 2025
Praveen Sharma of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was elected as the new Mayor of the Moga Municipal Corporation in the polls held today. Sharma secured victory with the support of 31 out of 50 councillors.
The election process was marred by intense chaos and physical altercations. Tensions flared in the District Administration meeting hall as AAP councillors and members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) engaged in heated arguments that escalated into a scuffle.
Opposition parties, including the Akali Dal and Congress, accused the ruling AAP government of using coercive tactics to sway opposition councillors. In protest of these alleged “undemocratic practices,” all councillors from the SAD and Congress boycotted the proceedings and walked out of the meeting. Despite the boycott, the election continued, culminating in Praveen Sharma’s appointment.
The mayoral seat had been vacant following the unceremonious removal of Baljit Singh Chani on November 27, 2025. Chani, who made history in August 2023 by becoming the first AAP mayor in Punjab, saw a swift fall from grace.
In November 2025, the AAP high command expelled Chani from the party and removed him from the post. The party cited “concrete evidence” linking him to drug traffickers. Specifically, allegations surfaced that Chani had used his influence to shield a drug peddler from police custody and had allegedly demanded money to settle a narcotics-related case.
Following the emergence of incriminating videos and photographs, the party leadership demanded Chani’s resignation. Although Chani officially submitted his resignation citing “health and family issues,” it was widely understood to be a forced exit.
Following his removal, Baljit Singh Chani — a figure known locally for his social work, including the cremation of over 300 unclaimed bodies — denied the allegations. He claimed that a conspiracy was hatched by certain local leaders within his own party to tarnish his reputation and seize the mayoral office. Despite the party’s claims of evidence, as of late 2025, local police had not filed a formal criminal complaint against him, noting that no official victim had come forward at that time.
The process for election of mayor was started after some councillors approached the high court early this month and demanded elections for the post after Chani’s exit.
