The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday strengthened its hold over the Moga Municipal Corporation with the election of Praveen Sharma as mayor, ending a 53-day vacancy and underlining the party’s growing dominance in urban local bodies in Punjab. Sharma was elected with the support of 31 out of 50 councillors, giving AAP a clear majority in the civic House.
The mayoral election was held after the post remained vacant since November 27, 2025, following the removal of former mayor Baljit Singh Chani. AAP had acted decisively at the time, expelling Chani from the party and removing him from office after what it described as concrete evidence linking him to individuals involved in drug trafficking. Chani, however, denied the allegations, and no criminal case had been registered against him as of late 2025.
The process to elect a new mayor was initiated earlier this month after some councillors approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking directions for the timely filling of the vacant post.
The polling process, however, witnessed chaos in the District Administration meeting hall, with heated exchanges between AAP councillors and members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Opposition parties, including the SAD and Congress, staged a walkout, accusing the ruling party of exerting pressure on opposition councillors — allegations AAP leaders rejected as politically motivated.
Despite the boycott, the election proceeded as per rules, culminating in Sharma’s election. AAP leaders said opposition parties chose to walk out rather than face defeat on the floor of the House.
With the mayoral post now filled, the party said it would move quickly to ensure smoother functioning of the municipal corporation and accelerate pending civic projects.
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Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
Jan 19, 2026
