In a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the outcome of the contentious Chandigarh mayoral election, drawing a stark parallel between the events of the present day and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse 76 years ago.
Currently leading his party’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of undermining democracy in the mayoral elections and expressed grave concerns about the lengths the saffron party would go to retain power at the national level. In a post on X, Gandhi remarked, “It is beyond imagination what the BJP, which can kill democracy in front of the whole world in the mayoral elections, will do to remain in power in Delhi.” He went further to draw a historical parallel, stating, “Years ago, on this day, Godse had assassinated Gandhiji and today Godsewadis sacrificed his ideals and constitutional values.”
The Chandigarh Mayoral Election in Chandigarh witnessed significant controversy after the presiding officer declared eight votes of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors invalid, leading to the victory of BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar with 16 votes against AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar with 12 votes, while eight votes were deemed invalid.
Allegations of foul play surfaced as councillors associated with the Congress and AAP, who contested the election as allies, pointed to footage from the Assembly Hall showing the presiding officer purportedly marking some ballots. The ballots were invalidated for various reasons, including identifying marks that could compromise voters’ anonymity.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal condemned the events, labeling them a “black day for democracy.” Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Kejriwal denounced the BJP’s alleged hooliganism and emphasized the need for collective action to safeguard democracy, warning of dire consequences if such behavior persists unchecked.
“The AAP-Congress alliance had a clear majority, and it was a straightforward election. Yet, eight votes, or 25 percent of the total, were declared invalid. What kind of election was this?” Kejriwal questioned, highlighting the larger implications of the mayoral poll results and expressing concerns about potential malpractice in national elections.
The contentious Chandigarh mayoral election serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing India’s democratic processes and underscores the imperative for transparency, integrity, and accountability in electoral procedures. As political tensions escalate, the nation grapples with the fundamental principles of democracy and the values upheld by its founding fathers.
Dhairya Saraswat