“MLA da munda…”, that’s how newly elected mayor Sarabjeet Singh Samana’a name resonated among the crowd of party workers who had gathered for his coronation this evening. Samana is a three-time councillor, but as made evident by the celebration chants, the new mayor’s biggest USP was his father Kulwant Singh — the richest MLA in the Punjab Assembly.
A graduate in business administration, Samana has represented the city from two different wards in Sohana. This time, he chose to contest from a third ward, Lakhnaur, as the family has moved into a new palatial house there. Ever since Samana won from Ward No. 42 by a margin of 458 votes and AAP secured 27 seats in the House, it was clear that it would be very difficult for the party to look beyond him for the post of Mayor.
Some say there never was any doubt about “the son of the rich father” not being chosen. His only real challenge for the top post within the party was from AAP state general secretary Sunny Singh Ahluwalia, the CM’s handpicked candidate, but it so happened that Ahluwalia abruptly dropped his ambition.
After all, the father-son duo had considerable clout with 27 winning councillors and then some more. In the end 35 councillors — 27 AAP, four Independents, 3 BJP and one Congress — raised their hand in his favour. Ahluwalia himself stood near his chair, congratulating him on his success later.
“I want to thank my party for this big responsibility. I will work hard to live up to people’s expectations. First up, I want to rid the city of garbage mess and start a city bus service,” Samana said of his immediate plans after taking charge.
Samana did not mention it but, he must also be thanking his father the most. His father had himself served as the first mayor (August 2015 to August 2020) of the Mohali MC after the civic body was upgraded to a corporation status.
“If you have the financial muscle and political clout of insulating 20 councillors in a hill resort and cock a snook at party leadership, installing a mayor of your choice is a child’s play,” said an AAP councillor and one of the contenders for the top post.
Former health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said, “By appointing the son of millionaire businessman and MLA as the Mayor, the party has proved that there is a huge gap between its words and actions. The party ignored its own senior-most councillor and senior state leader. The same family now holds both the MLA’s position and the Mayor’s office, which is a clear betrayal of councillors from ordinary backgrounds and the common people.”
According to Samana’s election affidavit, he filed an IT return showing total income as Rs 2.31 crore in the financial year 2024-25. The assets included savings accounts, FDs, insurance policies and shares in various firms, including Janta Land Promoters Limited, Jay Ell Private Healthcare Limited, Rubab Hospitality Private Limited, Jay Ell Broadcast LLP, Jay Ell Housing LLP, GVS Supermarket LlP, Jay Ell Productions and Riyasat Hospitality LLP, mutual funds and foreign investment worth Rs 24.09 crore. He also owns a Toyota Fortuner and a bike.
His immoveable assets include a plot in Ludhiana, three plots in Sector 82, a commercial building in Ludhiana, amounting to Rs 13.65 crore. His total liabilities including that of his parents and brother amount to Rs 29.96 crore.
Samana may have inherited a financial and political legacy, but his biggest challenge now would be to step out of his father’s shadow and prove his own mettle in a governance role.
