Chandigarh has elected Harpreet Kaur Babla as its new mayor, following a tumultuous year under the leadership of AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor. A homemaker and seasoned politician with over two decades of experience, Harpreet is set to address the challenges faced by the municipal corporation (MC), which has been grappling with financial constraints and halted development projects.
At 60, Harpreet Kaur Babla steps into her new role with a wealth of political experience, having been actively involved in civic affairs for years. The wife of veteran BJP leader Devinder Singh Babla, Harpreet first entered politics in 2001 when she contested the municipal elections as a Congress candidate and won with a significant margin. After a brief hiatus, she returned to active politics in 2021, securing a landslide victory in the civic body polls, thus becoming a two-time councillor. However, after her victory, Harpreet made the decision to switch allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking a new chapter in her political career.
Harpreet, an alumna of Convent of Jesus and Mary, Dehradun, holds a Master’s degree in English from Post Graduate Government College for Girls in Chandigarh. Born to a retired Colonel, she has always been involved in community and social issues.
Her husband, Devinder Singh Babla, is a prominent figure in Chandigarh’s political scene. A former president of Congress’ Chandigarh unit, he is currently the vice-president of BJP’s local unit. Together, the couple has two sons: Yudhveer Singh Babla, an MBA in marketing, and Paramveer, a lawyer. Both sons are actively involved in managing the family’s real estate business.
With her wealth of political acumen, Harpreet Kaur Babla is determined to bring stability to the MC and resolve its financial issues, ensuring that development projects resume in Chandigarh. She aims to put the MC house in order and bring much-needed reforms to address the city’s growing challenges.
As Harpreet takes charge of the mayoral office, residents and political observers alike are eager to see how she tackles the hurdles ahead and restores the municipal corporation to its former efficiency.
Sources By Agencies
