The Punjab and Haryana High Court has set the stage for a legal showdown, issuing notices to the Chandigarh administration and the Municipal Corporation following a petition by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The AAP’s plea, filed on January 31, seeks the organization of fresh elections under the supervision of a retired High Court judge. The Court has granted a three-week window for the respondents to file their replies, marking a pivotal moment in the aftermath of the surprising results of the Chandigarh mayoral polls held on January 30
In an unexpected turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in the mayoral polls, dealing a shock defeat to the AAP-Congress alliance. Allegations of foul play prompted the AAP to approach the High Court, and the petition was submitted by AAP Councillor Kuldeep Kumar, the mayoral candidate. The petition specifically targets the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and the Union Territory administration, among other entities.
During the hearing, counsel Gurminder Singh, representing the petitioner, informed reporters that the Court has given the respondents a three-week timeframe to present their responses. However, the Court did not provide any interim relief to the petitioner, as clarified by senior standing counsel Anil Mehta.
The AAP councillor, Kuldeep Kumar, alleges “complete fraud and forgery” in the mayoral election process and seeks to annul the election results. The petition also includes a plea for an injunction against the newly elected Mayor, citing the purported tainting of the entire election process by fraud.
The mayoral polls, initially anticipated to be a straightforward victory for the AAP-Congress alliance in the 35-member House of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, turned in favor of the BJP. The opposition parties, pointing fingers at presiding officer Anil Masih and alleging ballot tampering, have set the stage for a contentious legal battle that could potentially reshape the political landscape in Chandigarh.
