The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defeated the INDIA alliance of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to win the Chandigarh mayoral elections. BJP’s Manoj Sonkar recieved 16 votes against the INDIA alliance candidate, who won 12.
The AAP and Congress alliance had enough numbers to win the Chandigarh mayoral elections but eight votes were declared invalid, resulting in BJP’s victory.
After the results, AAP councillor Prellata alleged foul-play and said that ballot was snatched from her hand. She also said that they will challenge the results in the high court.
“We will approach the High Court. Today, the BJP has won by deceit. The ballot was snatched from my hand. Kirron Kher madam was continuously signalling. How can 8 votes be invalid? ” she said.
Billed to be the first direct INDIA vs BJP contest, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress had formed an alliance for the Chandigarh mayoral elections.
The BJP has the most number of councillors in the 35-member municipal corporation house. The AAP is close second with 13 members. The Congress and the SAD have seven and one councillors, respectively.
However, the combined strength of AAP and Congress was enough to win the mayor elections but didn’t materialise as eight votes were declared invalid.
The Chandigarh mayoral elections, which were scheduled to take place on January 18, were postponed till further notice following the purported hospitalisation of presiding officer Anil Masih.
The elections were rescheduled to February 6 but after court’s intervention, they were scheduled for January 30.
After the results, members of the Congress and the AAP alleged foul play and shouted slogans against the BJP inside the municipal corporation house.