Chandigarh’s Congress party has strongly condemned the BJP and its administration at the Municipal Corporation, accusing them of widespread corruption that has adversely impacted the city’s high standards of civic life. The Congress alleges that the BJP-led Corporation’s corruption has led to a hefty burden of Rs 500 crore in the form of a loan on the residents of Chandigarh, a financial strain that is expected to persist for many decades. According to Rajeev Sharma, the spokesperson for the Chandigarh Congress Party, over the past 8 years, the people of the city have been grappling with exorbitant taxes imposed by the BJP-led Municipal Corporation. He highlights that in December 2019, the BJP proposed a 300% increase in water charges, which was postponed due to public pressure and continued op- position from the Congress.
However, in April 2022, the BJP succeeded in raising water rates, allegedly through the manipulation of councilor allegiances. Additionally, there have been reports of corruption related to parking contracts, with the BJP accused of favoritism and questionable practices in collecting parking fees. Sharma asserts that since the Congress-AAP alliance assumed power, there has been a shift away from imposing heavy taxes on Chandigarh residents. Two resolutions were passed by the Municipal Corporation, providing 20,000 liters of free water to residents and making parking free in city markets. Despite strong opposition and alleged political conspiracies from the BJP, India Block councilors successfully pushed these resolutions through.