Praveen Yadav (Ward 12) was elected as Manesar’s senior deputy mayor, and Reema Deepak Chauhan (Ward 2) as deputy mayor unopposed on Tuesday. The two are considered to be close to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former minister Rao Narbir Singh.
The BJP-backed leadership now controls key positions in the corporation. (HT PHOTO)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Mayor Inderjeet Kaur and eight councillors, believed to be her supporters, boycotted the voting process. Their absence meant no other nominations were filed, paving the way for an unopposed win for the BJP-backed candidates.
Kaur won the top Municipal Corporation of Manesar post as an independent candidate. She was initially seen as part of a formidable block of independents that swept the civic elections. The BJP aligned with seven independents after the polls, tilting the balance of power in its favour.
A BJP leader said the result on Tuesday showed the confidence councillors in leadership committed to development, even as the absence of Kaur and her allies raised questions about growing factionalism within the elected house.
Yadav is known as a grassroots leader, and Chauhan is a rising local politician. Their election is expected to boost administrative coordination and accelerate developmental works under the BJP’s influence in the civic body.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
The BJP-backed leadership now controls key positions in the corporation, placing them in a strong position to drive governance and policy decisions.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
The BJP-backed leadership now controls key positions in the corporation, placing them in a strong position to drive governance and policy decisions.
{{/usCountry}}
The absence of Kaur and her supporters on Tuesday raised concerns among residents who now fear political infighting may impact development work in the rapidly growing region. Activists called for unity among elected representatives, urging them to prioritise public service over political allegiances.
The turn of events on Tuesday signalled the deepening influence of Rao Narbir Singh in Manesar politics, even after being left out of the state Cabinet. His loyalists now hold significant decision-making authority in the corporation.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.
Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.
Home/India News/BJP-backed camp takes control of Manesar civic body
{{^htLoading}}
Advertisement
{{/htLoading}}
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
{{#usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
Notifications
Get breaking alerts directly from the newsroom
Notifications are on!You'll be notified when news breaks
