Democracy has been crushed: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Chandigarh Mayoral poll results

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. File Pic

After the high drama witnessed in the Chandigarh Mayoral poll results as the presiding officer declared eight votes of Congress and AAP councillors invalid resulting in the victory of BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar in the mayoral elections, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi alleged that rules, law, democracy, its dignity and the Constitution were kept aside for the sake of power, reported news agency ANI.

"The way democracy has been crushed in the Chandigarh Mayor elections is in front of the entire country. Rules, law, democracy, its dignity and the Constitution were kept aside for the sake of power. The people of the country are seeing that even in the system of one city, the voice of the opposition and the public is being openly suppressed. If they can go to this extent in local bodies, then how can the public trust them in state and central elections? Doubt is spreading on a large scale among the public," Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi posted on X.

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also citicised the Chandigarh Mayoral poll results and accused BJP of killing democracy.

"It is beyond imagination what the BJP, which can kill democracy in front of the whole world in the Mayor elections, will do to remain in power in Delhi. Years ago, on this day, Godse had assassinated Gandhiji and today Godseists sacrificed his ideals and constitutional values," Rahul Gandhi said.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted on Tuesday with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress alleging electoral "malpractices" by the BJP. On the other hand, the BJP said that the "victory" is yet another jolt for the INDIA bloc, reported ANI.

AAP termed the poll as "unconstitutional and illegal" and an act of "deshdroh" (treason), reported ANI.

BJP's Manoj Sonkar defeated AAP-Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh. He received 16 votes, while Singh got 12 votes. Eight votes were declared invalid.

Meanwhile, the AAP and Congress filed a petition in the Punjab-Haryana High Court highlighting concerns over the integrity of the recently conducted mayoral elections in Chandigarh. The court will hear the matter on January 31, reported ANI.

Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that there was brazen misuse of electoral machinery at the behest of the BJP in the Chandigarh Mayoral polls.

"The brazen misuse of electoral machinery at the behest of BJP in the Chandigarh Mayoral polls will further erode the confidence of people in free and fair elections. As I said yesterday, 2024 is the last chance for us to save Democracy. If we do not come together, to save it from BJP, our future generations shall repent. On Gandhi ji's #MartyrsDay, Godse worshipper BJP has murdered Democracy and all ethos of Constitution," Kharge posted on X.

AAP Chandigarh Mayor candidate Kuldeep Kumar was in tears after the result was declared. He said, "Democracy has been murdered."

AAP leader Raghav Chadha questioned the Chandigarh mayoral poll process and referred to the poll process as "unconstitutional and illegal" and an act of "deshdroh" (treason). He accused the BJP of "orchestrating" it after sensing its defeat in the election, reported ANI.

"Victory of our alliance was certain, but sensing imminent defeat, the BJP hatched conspiracies. First, the presiding officer, who was to conduct polls on January 18, was made to fall ill. Thereafter an attempt was made to buy councillors of the AAP. When BJP's 'operation lotus' failed, then they did fraud (in the mayoral polls)," said Chadha, reported ANI.

"BJP's presiding officer did not allow any election agent of any party to come forward during the counting of votes. Whenever counting takes place, election agents of parties are allowed to come. Then after the BJP's presiding officer inked the ballot paper using his pen and then declared them invalid during the counting of votes," he added further, reported ANI.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) indulged in "hooliganism" during the Chandigarh mayoral elections and called the polls a "black day for democracy."

Presiding Officer of Chandigarh Mayor election Anil Masih reacted to the vote counting of the Chandigarh Mayoral elections 2024 and said that there were around 11 ballot papers with which they (AAP) had a problem.

"There were around 11 ballot papers with which they (AAP) had a problem. I honoured their wish and issued new ballot papers. I declared the result after that. BJP won 16 votes, AAP won 12 votes and he rest of the 8 votes were invalid. After I declared the result the Opposition started disrupting the process and hijacked the ballot papers. AAP and Congress conspired to derail the election process," he said, reported ANI.

After BJP's Manoj won the Chandigarh mayor election, a ruckus broke out in the House. Congress and AAP councillors accused the BJP of cheating and not following the due electoral process.

The polls were conducted today after the presiding officer fell ill on the initial date, January 8 of holding the polls.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 24, 2024, announced the decision to hold the Chandigarh Mayoral Elections on January 30 and also vested the responsibility for security in the Chandigarh Police.

(With inputs from ANI)