Barnala got its first-ever mayor on Thursday following the unanimous election of Hasan Bhardwaj, a former officer on special duty (OSD) to Sangrur member of Parliament Meet Hayer, to lead the newly
upgraded municipal corporation.
The election took place in the presence of finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, MP Hayer, and MLAs Labh Singh Ugoke and Kulwant Singh Pandori, solidifying the Aam Aadmi Party’s control over the civic body following its decisive victory in the May 26 polls.
The AAP initially won 36 of the 50 wards, with the BJP taking seven, independents five, and the Congress two, though its strength subsequently grew to 38 after two independents joined the ruling party.
Cheema confirmed that 49 of the 50 elected councillors attended the session to back Bhardwaj, a first-time contestant whom he described as “a dynamic leader capable of driving chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s development agenda without discrimination”.
Highlighting the upgrade from a municipal council to a corporation as a key factor in the AAP’s electoral success, Hayer thanked the House for delivering a one-sided mandate that crossed party lines, framing the result as a public endorsement of the state government’s performance.
Taking charge, Bhardwaj, who was elected from Ward Number 44, credited party convener Arvind Kejriwal for elevating ordinary citizens into governance and pledged to execute all civic and development works with impartiality across all wards.
Before the election process, the 50 elected councillors were administered the oath of office. The oath-taking ceremony and election proceedings were conducted under the supervision of Patiala division commissioner Vinay Bublani.
Mehta retains Bathinda amid factional boycott
In Bathinda, 28-year-old AAP councillor Padamjeet Singh Mehta was elected mayor of the region’s largest civic body for a second consecutive term.
Mehta was elected unanimously and unopposed from ward number 46 in a meeting of the AAP councillors held under the supervision of cabinet minister Hardeep Singh Mudian.
Mehta is the son of AAP leader and Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) president Amarjit Singh Mehta.
When Mehta was first elected as mayor in February 2025, he was the lone AAP councillor in a House where the Congress held the majority.
Following the recent civic polls, the AAP now commands 35 councillors in the 50-member House. However, a rift in the AAP was visible as Bathinda Urban legislator Jagroop Gill, a strong critic of the father-son Mehta duo, skipped the mayoral election event.
Asked about Gill’s absence, Mudian tried to downplay the situation by stating that the MLA “may have some other commitment”. Mudian added that Mehta emerged as the sole choice for the mayoral office “in recognition of the development works undertaken under his leadership in Bathinda”.
Vinaypal Kaur takes reins in reserved Moga seat
The political landscape in Moga shifted toward the ruling party as 44-year-old AAP councillor Vinaypal Kaur was elected mayor.
The mayoral seat in Moga was reserved for a backward caste (BC) candidate.
A political novice, Kaur said she “would work for the development of the city”.
The AAP holds a firm majority in Moga, where a total of 30 AAP councillors were elected to the 50-member House, and two independents subsequently extended their support to the ruling party.