In the latest development of the political saga surrounding the Chandigarh mayoral elections, BJP leader Manoj Sonkar stepped down from his position the night before the Supreme Court was set to deliberate on the alleged vote tampering incident. The former mayor’s resignation marks yet another turning point after the contentious January election that originally favored AAP-Congress candidate Kuldeep Kumar, but ultimately saw the declaration of eight votes as invalid, leading to Kumar’s defeat.
Sonkar’s decision came after discussions with BJP’s top brass and coincided with news of the defection of three AAP councillors to the BJP, which purportedly bolstered the party’s strength in the 36-member electrol assembly. In a surprising twist of fate, Gurcharanjeet Singh, one of the defecting councillors originally affiliated with the BJP, had joined AAP earlier in the year. As the new developments unfolded, speculation looms over whether the BJP’s resultant number increase will secure the mayoral seat once again should a re-election occur. Furthermore, the BJP reaffirmed its commitment to treat the three newly acquired councillors fairly, critiquing AAP’s alleged false promises in the process.
The Supreme Court’s intervention brings a critical dimension to this electoral drama, with a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud having expressed severe dismay at the voting process. The court emphasized the gravity of democracy’s undermining through the improper invalidation of votes, casting a somber tone over the whole electoral process. Moreover, it is set to examine the matter further, requiring the concerned presiding officer’s presence at a scheduled hearing. These legal proceedings appear intricate and are likely to shape the narrative of democracy and fair play within the ambit of local elections.