Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, February 20
The Congress-led Shimla Municipal Corporation presented its third budget on Friday amid noisy scenes and a walkout by opposition councillors. The disruption began when Mayor Surinder Chauhan stood up to present the 2026–27 financial plan in the House. Councillors from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned his authority to table the budget, arguing that his term had already ended. They demanded to see the government notification granting him an extension.
Following the exchange, the BJP members staged a walkout, saying the Mayor had exceeded his powers by presenting the budget after the completion of his tenure.
Despite the protest, Chauhan went ahead and unveiled a surplus budget of ₹688 crore for the financial year 2026–27 — a significant increase from last year’s ₹188 crore surplus. In his address, the Mayor announced several welfare measures. These included providing sanitary napkins free of cost in all public toilets across the city and setting up feeding rooms for nursing mothers at popular public spaces such as the Ridge and Mall Road.
He also proposed introducing food vans at 26 identified locations to promote self-employment among women and young people. Additionally, e-carts will be deployed in the city’s core areas, and parking facilities will be constructed in every ward.
The developments come amid political tensions within the civic body, highlighting the ongoing contest between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in the hill town of Shimla.
