AAP Slams BJP and Congress Over Decades-Long Chandigarh Housing Board Deadlock
CHANDIGARH
6 April, 2026
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) intensified its critique of the BJP and Congress, alleging that both parties have failed to provide a permanent solution to the "need-based changes" issue in Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) units despite holding power over the last 25 years. During a press conference held on Monday, AAP Chandigarh In-charge Jarnail Singh stated that the lack of a clear policy has left residents in a state of perpetual uncertainty. Singh pointed out that while the city is currently represented by a Congress Member of Parliament, Manish Tewari, the administration remains under the jurisdiction of the BJP-led central government, yet the grievances of homeowners remain unaddressed.
The party highlighted a pattern of inconsistent enforcement regarding structural modifications, with Singh claiming that regulations concerning balconies, upper-floor constructions, and glass houses have been repeatedly altered. This shifting regulatory landscape has created significant confusion, as structures once deemed legal are frequently later flagged as violations. According to the AAP, these contradictory rules and selective actions by officials primarily impact middle-class families who are struggling to navigate the arbitrary enforcement.
Political friction escalated into a physical standoff in Sector 45-D during a CHB demolition drive. AAP leaders, including former Mayor Kuldeep Kumar and General Secretary Sunny Aulakh, reached the site to protest the action, resulting in the police detaining several party members. The AAP has alleged these detentions as a suppression of democratic rights and a blow to public advocacy.
