BJP’s Manoj Sonkar resigns as Chandigarh Mayor ahead of Supreme Court hearing on mayoral poll matter – India TV

Newly-elected Chandigarh Mayor Manoj Sonkar resigned on Sunday (February 18), a day ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on the mayoral polls matter, Punjab BJP president Jitendra Malhotra stated.

The resignation comes at a time when there’s a buzz of three opposition MCs becoming a member of BJP. Earlier there have been reviews that Aam Aadmi Party could face a giant blow in Chandigarh. Three councilors of AAP could be part of the BJP. There was intense dialogue on the names of Poonam, Neha Musawat and Gurucharan Singh Kala amongst those that have been more likely to be part of the BJP.

Chandigarh mayor election

There is a steady political turmoil concerning the Chandigarh Mayor election held on January 30. The AAP and Congress alleged that the BJP tampered with the postal ballots. AAP had approached the Supreme Court concerning the matter of rigging on this election. The hearing of this case remains to be going on within the prime courtroom. The subsequent hearing goes to be held within the Supreme Court concerning the Mayor dispute. BJP desires to strengthen its numbers by together with three councilors of Aam Aadmi Party.

It was alleged that eight votes of the Congress-AAP mix have been invalidated.

Supreme Court hearing

The Supreme Court on February 5 got here down closely on the Returning Officer of the who held the Chandigarh Mayor elections and stated in stringent phrases that “it’s apparent he has defaced the poll papers”. The prime courtroom took a notice of the video recording of the elections and termed the Returning Officer’s act as “homicide of democracy” stating that the courtroom is “appalled” and the person ought to be prosecuted. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed annoyance after watching the video of the electoral proceedings and stated that, prima facie, the returning officer was “defacing” the poll papers.

“Is this the best way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a homicide of democracy. We are appalled. This man ought to be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of Returning Officer? Why is he wanting on the digital camera like a fugitive and defaces the poll paper?” Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated.

 

AAP strikes SC

One of the AAP councillors had moved the highest courtroom difficult a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that refused to grant any interim aid to the celebration looking for recent mayoral polls in Chandigarh. BJP’s Manoj Kumar Sonkar had emerged victorious within the Chandigarh Mayoral Election, defeating AAP-Congress Alliance candidate Kuldeep Singh. AAP had alleged foul play on the half of the Returning Officer.

Sonkar was elected Mayor of Chandigarh on January 30 after he bagged 16 votes in opposition to Congress-AAP joint candidate Kuldeep Singh who secured 12 votes. Eight votes have been declared invalid which later turned essential in deciding the result of the polls.