Senior Congress leader and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari discussed the Centre's withdrawn plan to introduce a Bill that would allow direct governance of the Union Territory through Article 240 of the Constitution. The proposed Constitutional amendment appeared in Parliament's Winter Session bulletin without prior stakeholder consultation, despite requiring a two-thirds majority in both Houses. Tewari expressed concern that the Bill ignored Chandigarh's historical evolution and might have been an attempt to settle its political status surreptitiously. Chandigarh was originally conceived as Punjab's capital between 1949 and 1953 to replace Lahore, lost during Partition. It became a Union Territory only in November 1966 as an interim measure during Punjab's trifurcation. Multiple attempts to resolve Chandigarh's status followed, including the Indira Gandhi award of 1970 and the Rajiv-Longowal accord of July 24, 1985, which awarded Chandigarh to Punjab. However, none were implemented. Tewari emphasized that Chandigarh's governance structures have become fossilised over 40 years, unable to address administrative issues or development needs. He argued that any Constitutional arrangement must acknowledge the city's syncretic, cultural, and linguistic ties to Punjab, and that political will is needed to finally settle the question.
Historical Evolution and Interim Union Territory Status
Chandigarh was conceived and inaugurated as East Punjab's capital between 1949 and 1953, replacing Lahore after Partition. When PEPSU merged with East Punjab on November 1, 1956, it became the capital of joint Punjab. From 1956 to 1966, Chandigarh functioned as Assembly constituency number 10 in Punjab Vidhan Sabha. During Punjab's trifurcation in 1966, the Shah Commission recommended on May 31, 1966 that Kharar Tehsil, including Chandigarh, go to Haryana. This sparked massive agitation in Punjab between May and November 1966, resulting in Chandigarh being designated a Union Territory as an interim measure, given its predominantly Punjabi-speaking population.
Failed Attempts and Governance Concerns
Between 1966 and 1986, several attempts were made to resolve Chandigarh's political status. The Indira Gandhi award of 1970 proposed giving Chandigarh to Punjab in exchange for Fazilka and Abohar going to Haryana, but was never implemented. The Rajiv-Longowal accord of July 24, 1985 again awarded Chandigarh to Punjab with Hindi-speaking areas going to Haryana, followed by the Mathew, Venkatramaiah, and Desai Commissions, but nothing materialised. For 40 years, the issue has remained frozen. Meanwhile, Chandigarh's governance structures have become fossilised, unable to resolve administrative issues or address development needs. Tewari stressed that statesmanship requires settling the political question decisively, acknowledging aspirations of 1.5 million residents whose cultural identity is rooted in Punjab and Punjabi.
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