In a dramatic turn of events, three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just before a crucial Supreme Court hearing. To add to the political storm, Chandigarh Mayor Manoj Sonkar has resigned from his post, triggering fresh mayoral elections. With the BJP gaining an advantage over the AAP-Congress alliance, the stage is set for an intense battle for power. Let’s delve into the details and examine the current numbers game.
The Councillors’ Switch:
Gurcharanjit Singh Kala, Neha, and Poonam Devi, who were previously associated with the AAP, have crossed over to the BJP. They cited false promises by AAP and expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s work as reasons for their decision. This sudden shift has dealt a blow to the AAP-Congress alliance, which was already facing challenges in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
BJP’s Strength and Opposition:
Out of the 35 members in the Municipal Corporation House, the BJP currently holds 15 votes, including 14 councillors and one ex-officio member, MP Kirron Kher. Previously, the AAP-Congress alliance had 20 votes, but the rejection of eight opposition ballots during the January 30 polls led to the victory of BJP’s mayoral candidate, Manoj Sonkar. The AAP-Congress alliance alleged foul play and approached the Supreme Court after receiving no relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Impact of the Councillors’ Switch:
With the three AAP councillors joining the BJP, the party now holds 18 votes, giving them the upper hand against the AAP-Congress alliance. However, the alliance can still count on the support of the Shiromani Akali Dal, bringing their total votes to 18 as well. This creates a narrow margin, intensifying the competition for power in the upcoming mayoral elections.
Supreme Court Hearing:
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea filed by the AAP, alleging ballot tampering by the BJP during the January 30 mayoral polls in Chandigarh. The court has taken a strong stance against the alleged malpractice, emphasizing the need to prosecute the presiding officer, Anil Masih, for tampering with the ballots. This hearing will play a crucial role in determining the future course of action and the political landscape in Chandigarh.
Previous Mayoral Polls:
The mayoral elections in Chandigarh have been closely contested in recent years. In January 2023, Anup Gupta from the BJP won by a slim margin of one vote against Jasbir Singh Laddi from the AAP, with 15 votes to 14. The Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal did not participate in the voting process. Similarly, in 2022, the BJP candidate emerged victorious by a narrow margin of one vote, with one vote invalidated due to various reasons.
Conclusion:
The political drama in Chandigarh takes an intriguing turn as three AAP councillors switch sides and join the BJP, while the mayor resigns, setting the stage for fresh mayoral elections. With the numbers now evenly matched between the BJP and the AAP-Congress alliance, the Supreme Court hearing will have a significant impact on the outcome. The battle for power in Chandigarh intensifies, and the coming days will witness a high-stakes contest between the political rivals.
-Prisha Jaiswal