BJP councillor declared Chandigarh Mayor; Opposition demands arrest of Presiding Officer

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor Manoj Sonkar was declared the winner of the Chandigarh Mayor Election. He secured 16 votes in comparison to his competitor Kuldeep Singh who secured 12 votes. 

However the whole process has come under scrutiny as the opposition parties have charged the Presiding Officer Anil Masih for making tick marks on polled votes resulting in their cancellation. “In the Chandigarh Mayor Elections, 8 of the 36 votes were declared invalid. It has never happened in the history of elections. The coalition of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) should have received 20 votes. We received 12. 8 of our votes were declared invalid. Not a single vote of the BJP was declared invalid. They received all their 16 votes. Our vote share was reduced. The protocol involves showcasing the vote to both parties before such a declaration is made. If the BJP can use such unconstitutional and illegal methods in a minor election for a mayor, imagine what they would do when they lose the Lok Sabha election. The Presiding officer has indulged in treason. He should be arrested. A criminal case must be filed against him. We will file a complaint, demand action and his arrest,” AAP leader Raghav Chadha said in an interaction with the press after the results were announced.