Amid concerns of horse trading and allegations of vote tampering, the Supreme Court is set to examine the ballot papers and video evidence from the disputed Chandigarh mayoral election in which BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar emerged victorious. Opposition arose when returning officer Anil Masih disqualified eight votes from the AAP-Congress alliance, which drew attention to a video of him marking the ballots in favor of AAP councilors. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasized the gravity of the situation and entertained the possibility of completing the election using votes already cast, negating the need for fresh polls.
At a hearing, Chief Justice Chandrachud directly questioned Masih, warning him of prosecution for his actions, which severely undermined the democratic process. The Supreme Court also directed a shift to a new and unbiased returning officer to ensure fair and judicious conclusion of the election results. Eight ballots central to the controversy are to be presented in court, with security, for examination.
The BJP initially appeared advantaged after the election and subsequent upheavals within the Municipal Corporation. However, the Supreme Court’s determination to scrutinize the contested votes has created uncertainty about whether the BJP will retain the mayoral seat. In the meantime, the AAP, regrouping from the defection of three councilors, remains on alert to maintain party unity. Despite the absence of a mayor following Sonkar’s resignation, the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor remain in their positions. The legitimacy of their elections, under the circumstances, may also be called into question.
Ultimately, the outcome hinges on the Supreme Court’s judgment, which could potentially change the mayoral winner if the invalidated votes are reconsidered. The apex court’s decision is yet to be made, and the political fate of the Chandigarh mayoralty continues to hang in the balance as the nation awaits the final verdict on this contentious matter.