Chandigarh: Kuldeep Kumar, joint candidate of INDIA bloc, i.e. AAP-Congress, has filed a petition in which he has demanded re-election by removing BJP’s newly elected Mayor Manoj Kumar Sonkar.
It has been argued in the petition that the counting of votes has been manipulated by the Presiding election officer Anil Masih. Congress leader and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi will present arguments on his behalf.
About Chandigarh Mayoral Election
There were 36 votes in the Chandigarh Mayor election, including one MP and 35 councilors. These included 14 BJP councillors, one BJP MP Kiran Kher, 1 from Akali Dal and the remaining 20 votes were from AAP and Congress councillors in which everyone voted.
After counting of the votes, the election officer said that BJP has got 16 votes, whereas the AAP-Congress candidate has got 12 votes while 8 of their votes were declared invalid.
BJP’s newly elected Mayor Manoj Sonkar has also filed a caveat in the Supreme Court. In the caveat it has been said that before taking any decision on Kuldeep’s petition, he should also be heard.
On his behalf, former Union Minister Late. Sushma Swaraj’s daughter Bansuri Bhardwaj will present the arguments.
Before going to the Supreme Court, a petition was filed on behalf of Kuldeep Kumar in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He did not get any relief during the hearing on this. In this, the division bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Harsh Bangar had refused AAP’s demand to stay the elections.
A notice was issued to the Chandigarh administration and a reply was sought within three weeks. On behalf of Kuldeep Kumar, a demand was made to hear this matter as soon as possible.
But still the Chandigarh administration has been given three weeks time by the High Court. Now this matter is to be heard in Punjab and Haryana High Court on 26th February.