In a surprising turn of events, Chandigarh mayor Manoj Sonkar, representing the BJP, tendered his resignation late last evening, just a day ahead of the Supreme Court hearing regarding alleged irregularities in the mayoral election. Sonkar, who emerged victorious in the closely contested election on January 30, defeating the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Kuldeep Kumar, opted to step down amidst mounting controversies.
In the mayoral election, perceived as a pivotal clash between the BJP and the INDIA bloc, Sonkar secured 16 votes, while Congress and AAP joint candidate Kuldeep Singh managed to garner 12 votes. However, the legitimacy of 8 votes remained contentious, sparking heated debates between the BJP and the Opposition factions.
Adding to the AAP’s woes, three of its councillors – Poonam Devi, Neha, and Gurcharan Kala – defected to the BJP camp, further bolstering the latter’s position in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. With these additions, the BJP’s council strength surged to 17 members out of the 35-member corporation.
Moreover, with the support of a Shiromani Akali Dal councillor and the voting rights of BJP’s Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher as an ex-officio member, the BJP’s effective count reached the crucial threshold of 19 members.
The AAP, now left with 10 councillors, finds itself in a challenging position, with its ally Congress holding seven seats in the corporation.
The aftermath of the mayoral election was marked by chaos, as allegations of electoral malpractice and tampering surfaced. In the centre of the controversy is presiding officer Anil Masih, who is accused of tampering with ballot papers, leading to legal intervention. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud condemned the incident, remarking that such actions undermined the democratic process. In response to the court’s directives, Anil Masih is summoned to appear before the court on February 19.
