Reacting to BJP win in mayoral polls in Chandigarh, Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged the victory of saffron party is the result of dishonesty put into practice in broad daylight, and called it a matter of great concern.
He further said if they (the BJP) could stoop to so low for mayoral polls, they can go to any length to ensure their victory in the Lok Sabha elections due this year. He said what had happened was worrisome.
Meanwhile, there was ruckus in the legislative assembly as the councilors of the AAP and the Congress accused the Opposition of cheating and diverting public attention from the electoral process.
AAP leader Raghav Chadha said what happened was not a setback to the coalition of INDIA, but for the country as a whole and its democracy. The coalition was aggrieved and apprehensive about the upcoming general elections as anything could happen with the BJP at the helm.
Addressing the media, the AAP Lok Sabha MP pointed out that the presiding officer declared eight votes of AAP invalid without verification of the ballot. Demanding action against the presiding officer, he said his party would file a complaint against him with a demand for his arrest and an inquiry into the case.
Reportedly, the BJP polled 16 and the AAP-Congress alliance 12 votes in the elections even though the total number of councilors cast their vote is 20 as eight votes were declared invalid.
The deputy commissioner and presiding officer receives complaints against counting from the agent of parties as per the norm. But, Chadha regretted that this was not the case in the elections.
The municipal council consists of 35 councillors, including 14 from the BJP, with another vote of Member of Parliament (MP) and ex-officio member Kirron Kher. The AAP has 13 councilors, and the Congress 7, while the Shiromani Akali Dal has a lone councillor.