Chandigarh, February 20 : Until Sunday night, speculation swirled within political circles suggesting that the BJP would reclaim the mayoral seat. Manoj Sonkar’s resignation from the post had paved the way for a re-election. In a strategic move, the BJP attempted to secure a majority by enticing three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councilors to defect and join their ranks, finalizing the deal late into Sunday night. However, the political landscape was dramatically altered by a pivotal intervention from the Supreme Court, reshaping the dynamics of the impending mayoral appointment.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rendered a monumental decision regarding the Chandigarh Mayor election. Under the leadership of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, a three-member bench issued an order to validate the eight previously invalidated ballot papers from the mayoral election. Consequently, Kuldeep Kumar, representing the Aam Aadmi Party, was officially declared as the mayor following the court’s ruling.
The bench concluded that the petitioner received a total of 12 votes initially. However, eight of these votes were erroneously deemed invalid during the counting process. Subsequently, upon reevaluation, these eight votes were determined to be valid and in favor of the petitioner. Consequently, with the inclusion of these eight votes, the petitioner’s tally reached 20 votes. As a result, Kuldeep Kumar, an AAP councilor and the petitioner, was formally declared as the elected Mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. The decision by the Presiding Officer, Anil Masih, to declare the BJP candidate as the winner was deemed null and void in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling. The bench said that the presiding officer first made illegal changes in the process of mayor election. After this he lied before this court on 19th February.
Previously, the court conducted a thorough examination of the ballot papers used during the voting process on January 30. Upon scrutiny, the Supreme Court noted the presence of additional marks on eight ballot papers that were cast in favor of the AAP candidate. Subsequently, the court ruled that these marked ballot papers would be included in the counting process, and the winner would be declared accordingly. Following the court’s directive, jubilant celebrations erupted within the Aam Aadmi Party, anticipating a favorable outcome in the mayoral election.
Expressing his gratitude upon assuming the role of Mayor of Chandigarh, Kuldeep Kumar extended heartfelt thanks to the Supreme Court for its pivotal role in the election outcome. He emphasized that the victory was not only his own but a triumph for the people of Chandigarh and the Bharat Alliance as well. Kumar highlighted the significance of the victory, asserting that it demonstrated the fallibility of the BJP and underscored the power of unity, affirming that with collective effort, they could overcome formidable adversaries.
Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, conveyed his appreciation through his Press Conference to the Supreme Court for its pivotal role in the mayoral election outcome. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his delight at the court’s decision, stating that it was a triumph of truth. He welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Chandigarh mayoral election, emphasizing the significance of upholding the eight previously rejected votes by the presiding officer, which led to the declaration of AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar as mayor by the Chief Justice of India. Mann extended his heartfelt congratulations to the people of Chandigarh, hailing the victory as a significant moment for democracy. Additionally, Chandigarh Congress expressed their joy over the court’s decision, labeling it as a historic moment and a safeguarding of democratic principles.
