The recent Chandigarh mayoral elections have been anything but smooth, marked by controversy, allegations of foul play, and a legal battle that shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
Election Results:
- On January 30th, BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar won the Mayor’s post with 16 votes, defeating the Congress-AAP alliance’s candidate Kuldeep Singh who received 12 votes.
- 8 votes were declared invalid, which the AAP claims were unfairly discarded.
Allegations and Legal Challenge:
- The Congress and AAP alliance allege irregularities in the voting process, claiming tampering with ballot papers by the Presiding Officer.
- They have accused the BJP of manipulating the process to secure their victory.
- AAP councillor Kuldeep Singh filed an appeal to the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing and a re-election under the supervision of a retired judge.
Current Status:
- The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Kuldeep Singh’s plea on February 5th, 2024.
- Meanwhile, the High Court issued notices to the concerned parties involved in the election and adjourned the matter till February 26th.
Additional Information:
- The BJP denies any wrongdoing and maintains the election was conducted fairly.
- The outcome of the legal battle will determine the legitimacy of the election results and the future course of action for Chandigarh’s leadership.
Possible outcomes:
- The Supreme Court could uphold the election results or order a re-election if they find merit in the allegations.
- The High Court’s final decision could also impact the outcome, depending on their findings.
This is a developing story, and I will update you with any further developments as they become available.
It’s important to note that the information presented here is based on reports from various news sources and does not represent the official stance of any party or individual involved. Stay tuned for further updates.
Tirri Venkat Vinod