Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Kuldeep Kumar was declared the winner of the Chandigarh mayor election by the Supreme Court on January 20 and party chief Arvind Kejriwal thanked the top court for “saving democracy in these difficult times”. Nevertheless, considering the numerical strength in the House, it will not be easy for the AAP-Congress alliance to prove majority in the Municipal Corporation.
Number
As per the current situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 17 councilors in the 36-member municipal body. This includes 14 votes that the saffron party won in the January 30 elections and three AAP turncoats who joined the party before Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing.
The AAP-Congress alliance contesting the mayoral election jointly won 12 votes, as announced on January 30. Eight votes previously declared invalid were not counted in favor of the alliance, bringing the total to 20, as declared by the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, based on the results of January 30. But due to three party changes by AAP, the votes of AAP-Congress alliance in the House are reduced to 17.
BJP can also count Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, ex-officio member of the corporation and the only Akali Dal councilor, in its favour. Therefore, in case of a possible no-confidence motion against him in the House, BJP’s 19 votes may be less than the 17 votes of AAP-Congress Mayor Kuldeep Kumar.
No faith
Besides, BJP councilors Kuljeet Sandhu and Rajinder Sharma were elected unopposed as senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor after AAP and Congress boycotted the voting on the disputed mayor election.
“The mayor will have to prove his majority if the opposition moves a no-confidence motion against him,” said a legal expert. It will also depend on how the AAP-Congress alliance progresses.
At present, Congress and AAP leaders are encouraged by the Supreme Court’s intervention and its results. AAP leaders including Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal have called it the first victory of India Bloc against BJP.
“We have snatched the victory from them,” he said. They had stolen the elections, the votes. But we fought till the end and ultimately won. Those who say that BJP cannot be defeated – BJP can be defeated with unity, good planning and strategy and hard work. This is what these results prove,” Arvind Kejriwal said at a press conference after the SC declared the AAP candidate the winner of the January 30 mayoral election.
Controversy
The BJP had won the Chandigarh mayoral election held on January 30 by defeating the AAP-Congress alliance candidate after the returning officer had declared eight votes of the alliance partners invalid, triggering a legal-political controversy.
Manoj Sonkar became the winner for the post of Mayor by defeating Kuldeep Kumar by getting 16 votes as against 12 votes of his rival. Aam Aadmi Party went to the High Court and finally the matter reached the Supreme Court. Manoj Sonkar resigns from the post of Mayor before SC hearing. The apex court on January 30 found irregularities in the counting and declared eight ‘invalid’ votes counted in favor of AAP candidate Kuldeep, ruling out his victory.
Unlock a world of benefits! From informative newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and personalized newsfeeds – it’s all here, just a click away! log in now!
