Chandigarh Mayoral Election: BJP Triumphs Amid AAP-Congress Alliance’s Protest of “Invalid” Votes

In a significant development in the Chandigarh mayoral election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious, securing 16 votes in the 35+1-member municipal body. This election was notable as it marked the first major electoral challenge for the INDIA bloc, an alliance including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. However, the coalition faced a setback when eight of their expected 20 votes (including eight from the Congress) were declared “invalid,” resulting in the AAP receiving only 12 votes.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal expressed deep concern over the election’s outcome, accusing the BJP of dishonest practices. “How dishonesty has been done in broad daylight in the Chandigarh mayor elections is extremely worrying,” Kejriwal stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation. An AAP councillor, Prellata, also voiced her intention to approach the High Court, alleging deceit in the election process and claiming her ballot was snatched from her hand.

The BJP, on the other hand, celebrated its victory, with party chief JP Nadda praising the development in union territories under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He also commented on the failure of the INDIA alliance in their first electoral battle against the BJP. Meanwhile, the AAP and Congress continue to face challenges in their alliance, particularly in seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Punjab and Delhi, with their respective state units opposing the coalition. The recent loss in the Chandigarh mayoral election has added to the strain on the opposition group, which has already seen major members like Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) exit the alliance.

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