Overview
- The Union home ministry said the proposal is under consideration and will not be introduced in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
- The draft Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill would add Chandigarh to Article 240, allowing Presidential regulations for the UT and potentially opening the door to an independent administrator.
- An informal note sent to senior Punjab BJP leaders argued the change would modernise Chandigarh’s legal framework and ease updates without altering its joint-capital status.
- Punjab BJP leaders said they were not consulted and flagged risks to law and order and the party’s electoral prospects in a border state.
- The AAP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, along with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, opposed the move, citing fears of diluting Punjab’s link to a city where the Punjab Governor currently serves as Administrator.