Chandigarh Mayor Election Postponed Amid Legal Drama and Political Turmoil

The Voice of Chandigarh News:

In a dramatic turn of events, the much-anticipated Chandigarh Mayor election has been postponed yet again, sending ripples through the political landscape. Initially set for January 24, 2025, the election has now been delayed until January 29, 2025, following an intervention by the Punjab-Haryana High Court. This move is the latest twist in a series of legal battles and political maneuvering surrounding the election.

Legal Battle Heats Up: AAP and Congress Challenge Election Date

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have jointly challenged the election schedule in court, demanding that the election be postponed until after February 20, 2025. The parties argue that holding the election before this date would cut short the tenure of current Mayor Kuldeep Kumar, who was appointed by the Supreme Court to serve until February 19, 2025. They also called for open voting instead of the usual secret ballot, but their request was denied by the administration, which insisted on sticking to the traditional voting method.

With the High Court’s intervention, the election will now only take place after January 29, and the political stakes are higher than ever.

Echoes of Last Year’s Controversial Election

This isn’t the first time the Chandigarh Mayor election has been shrouded in controversy. The 2024 election was a fiasco, with allegations of vote tampering and fraud. Anil Masih, the then Presiding Officer, invalidated eight votes from the AAP-Congress alliance, declaring a victory for the BJP candidate, Manoj Sonkar. However, the AAP and Congress accused Masih of deliberately invalidating their votes, and the issue was escalated to the Supreme Court.

In a historic ruling, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud condemned Masih’s actions as a “mockery” of democracy, ordering legal action against him. The court ultimately sided with the AAP-Congress alliance, validating Kuldeep Kumar’s victory and sending a strong message against the BJP’s controversial tactics.

Political Drama Unfolds: Who Will Emerge Victorious?

Chandigarh’s Mayor election is always a high-stakes affair, as it is decided not by the public, but by elected councillors, including the Member of Parliament (MP). This time, Congress holds the MP vote, meaning that instead of BJP’s Kirron Kher, Congress MP Manish Tewari will cast the crucial vote. With political alliances in flux and the specter of cross-voting hanging over the election, the outcome remains uncertain.

For the past eight years, the BJP has dominated the Mayor’s office in Chandigarh. However, their 2024 victory was marred by controversy, forcing the elected Mayor to resign. The legal battles and Supreme Court ruling have only added fuel to the fire, making the 2025 election a closely watched political event.

As the clock ticks down to the rescheduled election on January 29, all eyes will be on Chandigarh to see which party ultimately prevails in this battle for power. With allegations of fraud, political alliances, and legal challenges, the stakes have never been higher.