Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has strongly criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the alleged rigging of the Chandigarh mayoral polls, drawing parallels with incidents during Pakistan’s national elections. Arvind Kejriwal, speaking in the assembly, accused the BJP of manipulating the ballots to ensure the victory of their candidate by a significant margin, likening the situation to electoral malpractices observed elsewhere.
Arvind Kejriwal’s remarks follow the recent Supreme Court verdict in the Chandigarh mayoral poll case, which ruled in favor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The verdict overturned the proclamation of BJP candidate Manoj Kumar Sonkar as Chandigarh Mayor by the Returning Officer Anil Masih. The court found that Masih intentionally invalidated eight ballots cast in favor of Kuldeep Kumar, the joint AAP-Congress candidate.
Despite Masih’s justification for marking the ballots due to alleged defacement, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, deemed the ballots valid and ruled in favor of Kuldeep Kumar. The court’s decision also called for the prosecution of the returning officer for his actions.
The verdict was welcomed by opposition leaders, who viewed it as a victory for democracy and a setback for electoral malpractice. The decision also provided a morale boost to the INDIA bloc parties, particularly AAP and Congress, amidst uncertainties over seat-sharing arrangements ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Arvind Kejriwal hailed the Supreme Court’s judgement as a major victory for the INDIA bloc and emphasized the importance of strategic planning to defeat the BJP. He underscored the significance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring fair electoral processes, condemning any attempts at manipulation or rigging.
As the political landscape evolves and preparations intensify for upcoming elections, the Supreme Court’s intervention serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s role in safeguarding the integrity of electoral democracy and holding accountable those responsible for malpractice.
Dhairya Saraswat