Chandigarh mayoral polls: In first direct contest between BJP and INDIA, AAP-Cong nominee is lost by saffron opponent

Following a dramatic turn of events in the Chandigarh mayoral elections, the BJP secured victory after the votes were cast and tallied on Tuesday. Originally scheduled for January 8, the polls were rescheduled to January 30 due to the illness of the presiding officer. The Punjab-Haryana High Court mandated the fresh scheduling, characterizing it as the inaugural direct electoral showdown between the BJP and the Opposition bloc—INDIA—according to AAP MP Raghav Chadha.

As the votes were counted, BJP’s mayoral candidate, Manoj Sonkar, garnered 16 votes, surpassing his rival, jointly backed by the AAP and the Congress, Kuldeep, who secured 12 votes. Notably, 8 votes were deemed invalid. Chaos erupted when the BJP candidate was declared the winner, leading to clashes between members of the saffron party and the joint Opposition.

Earlier in the day, stringent security measures were implemented at the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh ahead of the mayoral polls. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on January 24, 2024, decided to hold the Chandigarh Mayoral Elections on January 30 and entrusted security responsibilities to the Chandigarh Police.

Advocate General Punjab, Gurminder Singh, explained, “The Punjab Haryana High Court made its decision regarding the Chandigarh mayoral elections public. The court granted permission to hold the Chandigarh Mayoral polls on January 30 at 10.00 am. The Chandigarh Police has been entrusted with full responsibility for security.”

He further noted, “The Court has also said that all the counselors coming in to vote will do so without their security escorts. If needed, they will be assisted and provided security by the Chandigarh Police.”

The rescheduling of the mayoral polls, attributed to the presiding officer’s illness, prompted allegations from Congress and AAP leaders who claimed that the BJP intentionally delayed the polls anticipating defeat. In an unprecedented move, the Congress and AAP joined forces in supporting the joint Opposition candidate.

Under the agreement between the two parties, the AAP fielded a candidate for the mayoral position, while the Congress nominated candidates for the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor roles. Following the alliance on January 18, AAP MP Raghav Chadha emphasized that the elections would reshape the political landscape, stating, “This will be the first match of BJP vs the INDIA bloc.”