Chandigarh (Rajeev Sharma): The sudden removal of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Chief Engineer Sanjay Arora has taken a political turn, with insiders claiming that the move was driven not merely by administrative reasons but by internal conflicts among political leaders.
Sources within the Municipal Corporation reveal that Arora’s decision to question and audit the work and expenditure under the former Chief Engineer triggered sharp opposition from influential political figures aligned with a different faction.
According to officials, Arora had reportedly raised objections to several projects approved during the previous Chief Engineer’s tenure, insisting on verifying the real expenditure and technical compliance. His stand for financial scrutiny and transparency allegedly did not sit well with senior political leaders who had backed the previous CE’s earlier projects.
“Arora wanted to review old contracts and bring out the true financial picture. That honesty didn’t digest well with those who had stakes in previous works,” said a senior MC insider on condition of anonymity.
The resulting friction reportedly led to coordinated political pressure on the administration, ultimately culminating in the denial of Arora’s service extension and his removal from the post. The UT Administration has officially maintained that the decision was based on administrative factors such as tender irregularities, project delays, and inaccessibility to the public. However, multiple councillors and civic observers believe that the real cause was political retaliation rather than inefficiency.
Ruling party councillors had earlier complained about Arora’s “rigid attitude” toward contract approvals, while opposition members have described his ouster as “a punishment for seeking transparency.”
This incident is the latest in a series of controversies involving the Chandigarh MC’s engineering department. Over the years, multiple chief engineers have faced allegations of corruption, inflated project costs, and collusion with contractors.
- Former UT Chief Engineer K.K. Jerath was booked in corruption cases but later acquitted, exposing how inquiries often drag for years without conclusive accountability.
- Several engineering projects under previous administrations have been criticized for poor quality, excessive billing, and politically influenced awarding of tenders.
Experts argue that the post of Chief Engineer has long been seen as a power centre in Chandigarh’s civic setup, one often caught between bureaucratic integrity and political interference. Residents and civic activists have expressed concern that repeated political infighting is undermining city governance.
“When honest officers are sidelined for asking the right questions, it sends a dangerous message. Chandigarh deserves transparency, not political games,” said local activist Harjinder Singh Chairman Chandigarh employee subordinate.
With Arora’s exit, Superintending Engineer Krishan Pal Singh has been given additional charge. A fresh selection process is expected soon. Opposition councillors have demanded a vigilance probe into both previous CE’s works and the alleged political pressure behind Arora’s removal.
Observers say that unless the administration allows officers to function independently, the cycle of corruption, power politics, and scapegoating will continue to erode public trust in the city’s Smart City and infrastructure programs.
Sanjay Arora’s removal appears to be more than a routine administrative reshuffle; it reflects a deeper political power struggle within the Municipal Corporation. His attempt to scrutinize past projects and expose the real expenditures may have cost him his position, reigniting calls for accountability and transparency in Chandigarh’s civic administration.
