Supreme Court Overturns Chandigarh Mayoral Poll Result, Declares AAP-Congress Candidate Winner After Ballot Irregularities

New Delhi, 20-02-2024 : In a significant turn of events, the Supreme Court has overturned the outcome of the Chandigarh Mayoral poll, which initially saw the BJP candidate clinching an unexpected victory. The court has declared Kuldeep Kumar, the AAP-Congress alliance candidate who was defeated in the election, as the rightful winner of the mayoral seat. This decision comes after serious irregularities were found in the conduct of the January 30 election, leading to the invalidation of eight votes cast in Kumar’s favor.

Anil Masih, the returning officer for the poll and a BJP leader, has been ordered to face prosecution for his misconduct during the election process. The Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, highlighted Masih’s deliberate attempt to deface eight ballot papers, which played a pivotal role in the incorrect outcome of the election.

While the court clarified that it was not nullifying the entire electoral process, it focused on addressing the wrongdoing in the counting process that resulted in the invalidation of crucial votes for Kumar. The BJP had initially emerged victorious in the mayoral poll, securing a win over the AAP-Congress alliance candidate after the returning officer declared eight votes from the coalition partners as invalid. This move sparked allegations of ballot tampering and raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

Manoj Sonkar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had triumphed in the mayoral election by securing 16 votes against his rival’s 12, ultimately claiming the mayor’s position. However, Sonkar later resigned from his post, and the defection of three AAP councillors to the BJP further complicated the political landscape surrounding the election.