Chandigarh, Dec. 25 -- In a significant shift in the city's political landscape, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received a substantial boost on Wednesday as two sitting councillors from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defected to the saffron fold. Coming just weeks before the high-stakes mayoral elections scheduled for January 2026, the development has drastically altered the numerical strength of the House and dealt a blow to the joint front formed by the AAP and Congress.

Councillors Poonam (Ward No. 16) and Suman Sharma (Ward No. 4) formally joined the BJP at its Sector 33 office. The induction took place in the prsence of Chandigarh BJP president Jitendra Pal Malhotra, current mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, and former party president Sanjay ...