Panchkula mayoral polls: Congress bets on first-time candidate Sudha Bhardwaj

Weather ePaper Today’s Paper Journalism of Courage Home ePaper Politics Explained Opinion India Business Premium Cities UPSC Entertainment Sports World Lifestyle Tech Subscribe Sign In TrendingUPSC OfferIPL 2026US NewsPuzzles & GamesLegal NewsFresh TakeHealthResearch🎙️ Podcast Advertisement function checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript() { if (window.jQuery) { // jQuery is loaded, include your script jQuery(document).ready(function($) { // Your existing script for checking window width if (window.innerWidth) var page_w = window.innerWidth; else if (document.all) var page_w = document.body.clientWidth; if (page_w > 1024) { $(".add-left, .add-right").show(); } else { $(".add-left, .add-right").hide(); } }); } else { // jQuery is not loaded, check again after 0.2 seconds setTimeout(checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript, 200); } } // Initial call to the function checkAndLoadWindowSizeScript(); NewsCitiesChandigarhPanchkula mayoral polls: Congress bets on first-time candidate Sudha Bhardwaj Panchkula mayoral polls: Congress bets on first-time candidate Sudha Bhardwaj Sudha Bhardwaj has been chosen over former Panchkula mayor Upinder Ahluwalia, who lost to the BJP's Kulbhushan Goyal last time. Written by: Hina Rohtaki2 min readChandigarhUpdated: Apr 19, 2026 06:51 PM IST The elections will take place on May 10. (File Photo) Make us preferred source on Google Whatsapp twitter Facebook Reddit PRINT The Congress has chosen Sudha Bhardwaj, 65, as its candidate for the Panchkula mayoral polls. Bhardwaj has been chosen over Congress leader and former mayor Upinder Ahluwalia, who lost to the BJP’s Kulbhushan Goyal last time. A resident of Panchkula Sector 6, Bhardwaj will be contesting her first election. She holds BA, BEd and MEd degrees from Kurukshetra University. She has twin sons, Samarth and Sidharth. Sidharth is a Canadian citizen, while Samarth stays with her. Sources said that Bhardwaj belonged to the camp of Congress leader Kumari Selja. Former mayor and Panchkula Congress leader Ravinder Rawal, who owes allegiance to former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was also trying to get the party ticket. Bhardwaj has served as the state president and vice-president of the Congress’s women’s wing. Her husband Sanjeev Bhardwaj is the Haryana Congress’s media prabhari. A businessman and mining contractor, he also owned TV channels. He is also a builder. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sanjeev Bhardwaj said, “All through these years, she has just served people, which is why the party high command has given her the opportunity. Even during the Covid days, she selflessly worked for people and served food to hundreds every day.” “You see the condition of Panchkula. It has deteriorated so much. And the Rs 160-crore bank fraud has also shaken every resident. The facilities given to people have just deteriorated instead of improving,” he said. The BJP has still not named its candidate. Kulbhushan Goyal, the outgoing mayor, owns a township in Panchkula and a revolving restaurant, among other things. The elections will take place on May 10. Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter):  @HinaRohtaki ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram