The BJP candidate secured 16 votes, while Kuldeep Kumar from the AAP-Congress alliance received 12 votes. Eight out of the total 36 votes were deemed invalid.
Tuesday witnessed intense drama at the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation’s Assembly Hall as the presiding officer invalidated eight votes from Congress and AAP councillors. This decision ultimately led to the victory of BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar in the mayoral elections.
Sonkar secured 16 votes, surpassing AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar, who received 12 votes, while eight votes were declared invalid in the final tally.
Upon the announcement of these results, AAP and Congress councillors swiftly protested, accusing the BJP of engaging in unfair tactics.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, forming the INDIA bloc in the polls, have alleged ballot manipulation by the presiding officer, Anil Masih, during the counting process. AAP, citing footage that purportedly shows Masih making marks on certain ballots, expressed apprehensions about the fairness and integrity of the election process.
Ballots can be declared invalid for various reasons, such as the presence of identifying marks on the ballot paper that could potentially disclose voters’ identities and compromise the secrecy of the ballot.
AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha has called for action against the presiding officer, urging the initiation of a criminal case against him.
Senior AAP Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Shri @raghav_chadha Addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/gzoQlH80Ef
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 30, 2024
“This was not just an unconstitutional and illegal thing but also a treason. Whatever happened today during the mayoral elections in Chandigarh can only be called treason,” stated Raghav Chadha during an impromptu press conference.
The AAP has taken the matter to the high court, and Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh presented Kumar’s plea for an urgent hearing. Singh emphasized that eight votes were declared invalid without providing any explanation and requested that the records of the election be sealed.
The high court is scheduled to address the matter on Wednesday.