Day on, BJP retreats from resignation threat

PARTY'S LOCAL UNIT INSTEAD FACED STERN REBUKE BY THE HIGH COMMAND FOR ACTING IN HASTE

- Mandeep Kaur Narula

CHANDIGARH: A day after threatening mass resignations by the mayor and party councillors over the steep property tax hike, the Chandigarh BJP found itself backtracking on Wednesday—with no resignations or protests, and a stern rebuke from party seniors instead.

On Tuesday, city BJP president Jatinder Malhotra had declared that mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla and all party councillors would resign if the UT administration didn't roll back the hike and release funds for the cash-strapped municipal corporation.

The announcement came amid growing public backlash over the increased tax burden, but was immediately condemned by the Opposition Congress and AAP as an attempt to reclaim lost political ground.