The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that the central government does not intend to introduce any bill regarding Chandigarh's governance or administrative structure during the upcoming winter session of Parliament. This announcement follows a period of political contention surrounding a proposal to bring Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution.
The MHA's statement, released on Sunday, November 23, 2025, aims to address concerns that the proposed bill, listed as the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 in a Lok Sabha bulletin, would alter the existing governance arrangements in Chandigarh. Article 240 empowers the President to make regulations for Union Territories. The proposal suggested aligning Chandigarh with other Union Territories without legislatures, such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
According to the MHA, the proposal's intent was solely to simplify the law-making process for the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The ministry emphasized that the proposal is still under consideration and that no final decision has been made. Further, the MHA assured that any decision would be taken after thorough consultations with all stakeholders, keeping Chandigarh's interests in mind.
The initial proposal sparked strong reactions from political leaders, particularly in Punjab, who viewed it as an attempt to weaken the state's control over the Union Territory. Chandigarh is currently governed by an administrator who is also the Governor of Punjab. Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann described the proposal as a "conspiracy to snatch" Chandigarh, which serves as the capital for both Punjab and Haryana.
The Congress party has criticized the government's handling of the issue, calling it another instance of "first announce, second think" governance. Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Punjab Congress chief, expressed skepticism, questioning the guarantee that the bill would not be introduced in subsequent parliamentary sessions. Warring added that Congress MPs from Punjab would strongly oppose the move if it were to be brought up in the winter session, which is scheduled from December 1 to 19.
The MHA's clarification aims to allay these concerns, reiterating that the proposal does not seek to change the traditional arrangements between Chandigarh and the states of Punjab and Haryana. The ministry's statement followed a virtual meeting of BJP leaders from Punjab and the central government to discuss the repercussions of the proposed bill.
