AAP Plans Protest Against Alleged Cheating in Chandigarh Mayoral Polls, Kejriwal and Mann to Participate
Eight votes were declared invalid. Additionally, BJP nominees Kuljit Sandhu and Rajinder Sharma were elected to the positions of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to stage a protest outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Delhi on February 2, accusing the BJP of cheating in the recently held Chandigarh mayoral polls. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann are expected to join the protest.
The decision to protest follows the BJP's sweeping victory in the Chandigarh mayoral polls on Tuesday, dealing a setback to the Congress and the AAP, both part of the opposition INDIA bloc. The BJP candidate, Manoj Sonkar, secured the mayor's post by garnering 16 votes against the AAP's Kuldeep Kumar, who received 12 votes. Eight votes were declared invalid. Additionally, BJP nominees Kuljit Sandhu and Rajinder Sharma were elected to the positions of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.
The AAP-Congress alliance alleged tampering of ballot papers by the presiding officer, leading to a ruckus in the House. The opposition councillors boycotted the subsequent elections for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.
The BJP refuted the claims of ballot paper tampering, asserting the fairness of the electoral process. Despite the opposition's accusations, Manoj Sonkar emerged victorious in a clear majority.
In a parallel development, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was issued a fresh summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the same day, related to a money laundering case linked to an excise policy. The protest against the alleged cheating in the Chandigarh mayoral polls comes against the backdrop of these legal developments.
The demonstration outside the BJP headquarters is expected to draw attention to the AAP's concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process and demand a thorough investigation into the alleged cheating. As political tensions rise, the involvement of high-profile leaders like Kejriwal and Mann in the protest adds significance to the unfolding political scenario. The protest is likely to become a focal point in the ongoing political discourse, highlighting the complexities and controversies surrounding recent electoral outcomes.
