Chandigarh: The Chandigarh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to Ward No. 14 Councillor Kuljeet Singh Sandhu after he publicly demanded the resignation of Chandigarh BJP President Jatinder Pal Malhotra, party officials said.
Party cites breach of discipline
The notice, issued by BJP Chandigarh General Secretary Ramveer Bhatti, has directed the councillor to submit his reply to the party president within three days, according to the statement.
Bhatti said the party takes a strict view of public criticisms of its leadership and cited the BJP’s emphasis on organisational dignity, discipline and collective leadership. He said elected representatives and workers are expected to raise internal grievances through recognised party channels rather than via public statements.
"Making public statements against the party leadership is not in accordance with organisational discipline," the party general secretary said.
What prompted the notice
According to the party account, Sandhu — a former Senior Deputy Mayor — had sought Malhotra’s resignation after comments allegedly made by the president about the Punjabi community. Malhotra has said his remarks were misinterpreted.
Sandhu made his demand for resignation in a video released on social media from Australia and later raised the matter in the General House of the Municipal Corporation via video conferencing.
Party response and stance
Bhatti emphasised that while the BJP recognises the right of individual members to express views, organisational issues must be pursued through internal mechanisms. He said the party would not tolerate indiscipline and that issuing a show-cause notice is part of the standard disciplinary process.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party is a disciplined political organisation where organisational dignity, discipline and collective leadership are given the highest priority," Bhatti said in the statement released by the Chandigarh unit.
Immediate implications
The show-cause notice places Sandhu under formal inquiry and requires a written response within the stipulated three-day window. The notice signals that the party leadership intends to deal formally with dissent that it considers public and damaging to organisational unity.
For the municipal corporation, the episode highlights intra-party tensions at a time when civic governance depends on coordination among councillors and party functionaries. Any prolonged dispute or disciplinary action could affect the functioning of the General House if the matter escalates.
Timeline
| Date / Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Undisclosed recent date | Malhotra made comments allegedly against the Punjabi community; he later said comments were misinterpreted. |
| Video release (from Australia) | Cllr Kuljeet Singh Sandhu demanded Malhotra's resignation via social media video. |
| Subsequent municipal session | Sandhu raised the issue in the General House by video conferencing. |
| Notice issued | BJP Chandigarh General Secretary Ramveer Bhatti issued a show-cause notice, giving Sandhu three days to reply. |
What the party says members must do
- Raise organisational concerns through internal party forums and established channels.
- Avoid public statements that could be construed as undermining leadership or organisational dignity.
- Submit explanations when formally asked by the party to account for alleged indiscipline.
The BJP’s statement reiterated that the party respects the views and sentiments of its workers but insisted that collective leadership and unity must be preserved. It also described issuing a show-cause notice as part of the party’s established disciplinary mechanism.
The notice now sets a short deadline for Sandhu’s reply. The party will decide further course of action after examining his explanation, the statement said.
No response from Councillor Sandhu was included in the party release. The matter is likely to be watched by local political observers for its implications for intra-party cohesion ahead of future municipal and state-level contests.
