AAP councillors meet Manish Sisodia, seek break with Cong
The meeting, held a few days ago, marked the first formal interaction between Sisodia and municipal councillors since the party's controversial loss in the mayoral election earlier this year.
According to party sources, the discussion revolved around several pressing issues, including the decision to elect the mayor, senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor through show of hands rather than secret ballot, alliance with the Congress, and internal party discord.
A significant number of councillors reportedly voiced their dissatisfaction with the current coalition and urged the leadership to consider contesting future elections independently.
"There is growing sentiment among councillors that AAP can perform better on its own in the upcoming municipal corporation elections scheduled for December, 2026," a senior party source said, adding, "The alliance with Congress is seen as a limiting factor, especially with the Punjab assembly elections also approaching in the next year and a half."
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The councillors emphasised that any political decision taken in Chandigarh could have ripple effects in Punjab, where AAP holds significant ground. While the final call on the alliance rests with the party's central leadership, councillors expressed the need for an early decision to allow adequate time for campaign planning and strategy.
The issue of internal rifts within the Chandigarh unit also surfaced during the meeting.
The councillors raised concerns over cross-voting in the January mayoral election, which led to AAP's defeat despite having a majority. They urged Sisodia to take disciplinary action against those responsible.
Sources indicated that Sisodia listened to the concerns and assured that the party leadership would consider all viewpoints before making a final decision. The meeting is seen as a pivotal moment for AAP's local leadership, as it seeks to recalibrate its strategy ahead of key elections.
With growing pressure from within, all eyes are now on AAP's central command to see how it navigates the alliance debate and addresses internal challenges in Chandigarh.
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