Chandigarh BJP Leader Resigns, Three AAP Councillors Join Saffron Party

In a significant development that could reshape the political landscape of Chandigarh, BJP leader Manoj Sonkar stepped down as the city's mayor on Sunday, while three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This comes just a day before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea alleging irregularities in the recently held mayoral polls.

Sonkar's Resignation and BJP's Growing Strength

Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra confirmed that Sonkar had submitted his resignation to the municipal commissioner. Malhotra took the opportunity to criticize the Congress and AAP, accusing them of misleading the public and claiming that their true nature would soon be revealed.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Arun Sood announced that three AAP councillors—Neha, Poonam, and Gurcharan Kala—had joined the BJP in the presence of senior party leader Vinod Tawde. Sood was also present during the official induction of the three councillors into the BJP.

Shifting Balance in Chandigarh Municipal Corporation

The defection of the three AAP councillors is expected to significantly alter the power dynamics within the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. Prior to this development, the BJP held 14 seats in the 35-member corporation, while the AAP had 13. With the addition of these three councillors, the BJP's strength has now increased to 17, putting them in a stronger position whenever fresh mayoral polls are held.

Chandigarh Mayoral Polls Controversy

The recent Chandigarh mayoral polls were marred by allegations of irregularities, leading to a legal challenge in the Supreme Court. AAP's Kuldeep Kumar, who lost to Sonkar in the mayoral race, filed a petition alleging tampering with ballot papers by the presiding officer.

The Supreme Court took a serious view of the matter and severely criticized the returning officer for defacing the ballot papers. The court observed that such actions amounted to "murder of democracy" and ordered the preservation of ballots and video footage of the poll proceedings. The returning officer was also directed to appear personally during the next hearing scheduled for February 19.

Political Reactions and Implications

The Supreme Court's observations were welcomed by the AAP and the Congress, who saw them as a vindication of their claims regarding irregularities in the polls. Opposition councillors had previously accused Presiding Officer Anil Masih of tampering with the ballot papers, an allegation that the BJP had dismissed.

The BJP's consolidation of power in Chandigarh, coupled with the ongoing legal challenges, has created an uncertain political atmosphere in the city. The outcome of the Supreme Court hearing on February 19 will likely have a profound impact on the future course of Chandigarh's political landscape.