During a press conference in Panchkula, Bhupinder Singh Hooda (former chief minister of Haryana) called on residents to vote for the Congress party in the upcoming municipal corporation elections, asserting that the city has experienced minimal development over the past 11 years. Hooda criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for neglecting basic civic infrastructure, including poor roads and inadequate drainage systems. He raised concerns about an alleged ₹160-crore scam within the Panchkula Municipal Corporation, claiming that accountability measures have only targeted junior employees. Hooda also pointed to rising unemployment and law-and-order issues as factors eroding public trust. He projected Congress candidate Sudha Bhardwaj as a capable leader who could drive necessary changes in the city’s administration. Hooda's remarks were supported by several senior Congress leaders present at the event.