<p>Indian Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19) issued scathing remarks in the Chandigarh mayor polls row, demanding returning officer Anil Masih be prosecuted for interfering with the election process in the northern city.</p>

<p>The court ordered the result to be declared from present ballot papers, instead of ordering a fresh election. The court stated it will ask Chandigarh administration to appoint a neutral presiding officer and the counting will take place under the watch of a judicial officer nominated by the Punjab and Haryana Court.</p>

<p>A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra directed that the ballot papers be produced before the Court Tuesday (Feb 20) at 10.30 AM to ascertain if the votes can be deduced from them.</p>

<p>The court had earlier asked Masih why he put ‘X’ marks on ballot papers, to which the former presiding officer said they were already ‘defaced.’</p>

<h2><strong>How controversy erupted in Chandigarh mayor polls</strong></h2>

<p>The mayoral polls took place on January 30, and were won by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) after Masih declared eight votes of the opposition as invalid.</p>

<p>The BJP candidate secured 16 votes whereas the joint candidate of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress originally secured 20.</p>

<p>Those eight dismissed ballot papers became the point of contention between the two sides.</p>

<h2><strong>Troubles for AAP far from over</strong></h2>

<p>However, just a day before the hearing, three of AAP’s councillors - Poonam Devi, Neha and Gurcharan Kala - joined the BJP.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: India Farmers' Protest | Three union ministers to meet with farmers in Chandigarh</strong></p>

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<p>The new addition takes BJP’s total tally to 19, including 14 BJP’s own councillors, three from AAP, one from Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP's Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher.</p>

<p>Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has 35 members.</p>

<h2><strong>Supreme Court’s previous observation</strong></h2>

<p>On the previous hearing, the SC heavily came down upon the presiding officer and blasted him for ‘murdering democracy.’</p>

<p>"Is this the behaviour of a returning officer? He looks at the camera, and defaces the ballot obviously," the CJI had said after viewing a video of the counting.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw0xNbV2RWHHP0pIcpaxpGOp" data-ved="2ahUKEwjfwKy1tLeEAxU1zTQHHTvUAw0QxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandigarh-mayor-polls-sc-orders-returning-officer-to-appear-as-it-begins-hearing-plea-challenging-election-691676" jsname="YKoRaf">Chandigarh Mayor Polls: SC orders Returning Officer to appear as it begins hearing plea challenging election</a></strong></p>

<p>The AAP and Congress described the court's observations as a "tight slap" for the BJP.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19) issued scathing remarks in the Chandigarh mayor polls row, demanding returning officer Anil Masih be prosecuted for interfering with the election process in the northern city.

Indian Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19) issued scathing remarks in the Chandigarh mayor polls row, demanding returning officer Anil Masih be prosecuted for interfering with the election process in the northern city. The court ordered the result to be declared from present ballot papers, instead of ordering a fresh election. The court stated it will ask Chandigarh administration to appoint a neutral presiding officer and the counting will take place under the watch of a judicial officer nominated by the Punjab and Haryana Court. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra directed that the ballot papers be produced before the Court Tuesday (Feb 20) at 10.30 AM to ascertain if the votes can be deduced from them. The court had earlier asked Masih why he put ‘X’ marks on ballot papers, to which the former presiding officer said they were already ‘defaced.’ How controversy erupted in Chandigarh mayor polls The mayoral polls took place on January 30, and were won by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) after Masih declared eight votes of the opposition as invalid. The BJP candidate secured 16 votes whereas the joint candidate of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress originally secured 20. Those eight dismissed ballot papers became the point of contention between the two sides. Troubles for AAP far from over However, just a day before the hearing, three of AAP’s councillors - Poonam Devi, Neha and Gurcharan Kala - joined the BJP. Watch: India Farmers' Protest | Three union ministers to meet with farmers in Chandigarh × The new addition takes BJP’s total tally to 19, including 14 BJP’s own councillors, three from AAP, one from Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP's Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher. Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has 35 members. Supreme Court’s previous observation On the previous hearing, the SC heavily came down upon the presiding officer and blasted him for ‘murdering democracy.’ "Is this the behaviour of a returning officer? He looks at the camera, and defaces the ballot obviously," the CJI had said after viewing a video of the counting. Also read: Chandigarh Mayor Polls: SC orders Returning Officer to appear as it begins hearing plea challenging election The AAP and Congress described the court's observations as a "tight slap" for the BJP. (With inputs from agencies)

Chandigarh mayor polls row: India SC denies fresh polls but AAP’s troubles are far from over

<p>The Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19) ordered fresh counting of&nbsp;existing ballot papers instead of a fresh election for the post of Chandigarh mayor.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The court said that the ballot papers of the Chandigarh mayoral elections as well as the entire video recording be produced before it by 2 pm&nbsp;on February 20. The court also asked the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to depute a judicial officer, who will be provided with security, to bring the material safely.<br />
<br />
Earlier, the returning officer in the Chandigarh Mayor election Anil Masih reached the Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19)&nbsp;after being ordered to appear as he had allegedly tampered with the electoral ballots.<br />
<br />
This came after a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud questioned the presiding officer Anil Masih, as to why he put ‘X’ marks on eight ballot papers and he said that he had found them to be ‘defaced’.<br />
<br />
The top court said that votes will be counted by disregarding the ‘X’ marks. The court stated that it will ask the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh to nominate a neutral officer to be the returning officer to count the ballots and declare the results, reported Live Law.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoj Sonkar quit from the post&nbsp;of Chandigarh Mayor on Sunday (Feb 18) ahead of the Supreme Court hearing about claims of irregularities in the voting procedure.</p>

<p>In the first week of February, the Supreme Court denounced the Returning Officer, who conducted the Chandigarh Mayor elections, stating that he was "murdering democracy", further directing the preservation of all election records, including ballot papers video footage and other material, through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court.</p>

<p>A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra stated that it was very evident that the voting papers were vandalised by the returning officer.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-protest-government-puts-forward-5-year-plan-to-buy-pulses-maize-at-msp-after-fourth-round-of-talks-691521">Farmers' protest: Indian govt proposes 5-year plan to buy pulses, maize at MSP, Delhi march paused till Feb 21</a></p>

<p>"Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is the murder of democracy. We are appalled. We will not allow democracy to be murdered this way. The man defaces ballots the moment he sees a cross at the bottom. This man should be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of the returning officer?"&nbsp;</p>

<p>It ordered that the Chandigarh Corporation meeting, scheduled for February 7, be postponed till further notice.</p>

<p>"Tell the Returning Officer that the Supreme Court is watching him. We will not allow democracy to be murdered like this. The great force in this country is the purity of the electoral process, but what has happened here?," said the bench.</p>

<p>The observations made by the top court came after it viewed footage of the contentious election.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court made these comments at the time of hearing the AAP councillor's&nbsp;plea after the Bharatiya Janata Party won the mayoral election after the Returning Officer scraped eight opposition votes.</p>

<p>Aam Aadmi Party's councillor Kuldeep Dhalor had filed a petition after losing the mayor election to BJP's Party's Manoj Sonkar on Jan 30.</p>

<p>BJP's Sonkar received 16 votes as opposed to Kumar's 12 votes. The action of rejecting eight votes of the AAP-Congress alliance as invalid sparked the allegations of vote tampering.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19) ordered fresh counting of existing ballot papers instead of a fresh election for the post of Chandigarh mayor. The court said that the ballot papers of the Chandigarh mayoral elections as well as the entire video recording be produced before it by 2 pm on February 20.

The Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19) ordered fresh counting of existing ballot papers instead of a fresh election for the post of Chandigarh mayor. The court said that the ballot papers of the Chandigarh mayoral elections as well as the entire video recording be produced before it by 2 pm on February 20. The court also asked the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to depute a judicial officer, who will be provided with security, to bring the material safely. Earlier, the returning officer in the Chandigarh Mayor election Anil Masih reached the Supreme Court on Monday (Feb 19) after being ordered to appear as he had allegedly tampered with the electoral ballots. This came after a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud questioned the presiding officer Anil Masih, as to why he put ‘X’ marks on eight ballot papers and he said that he had found them to be ‘defaced’. The top court said that votes will be counted by disregarding the ‘X’ marks. The court stated that it will ask the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh to nominate a neutral officer to be the returning officer to count the ballots and declare the results, reported Live Law. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoj Sonkar quit from the post of Chandigarh Mayor on Sunday (Feb 18) ahead of the Supreme Court hearing about claims of irregularities in the voting procedure. In the first week of February, the Supreme Court denounced the Returning Officer, who conducted the Chandigarh Mayor elections, stating that he was "murdering democracy", further directing the preservation of all election records, including ballot papers video footage and other material, through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra stated that it was very evident that the voting papers were vandalised by the returning officer. Also read: Farmers' protest: Indian govt proposes 5-year plan to buy pulses, maize at MSP, Delhi march paused till Feb 21 "Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is the murder of democracy. We are appalled. We will not allow democracy to be murdered this way. The man defaces ballots the moment he sees a cross at the bottom. This man should be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of the returning officer?" It ordered that the Chandigarh Corporation meeting, scheduled for February 7, be postponed till further notice. "Tell the Returning Officer that the Supreme Court is watching him. We will not allow democracy to be murdered like this. The great force in this country is the purity of the electoral process, but what has happened here?," said the bench. The observations made by the top court came after it viewed footage of the contentious election. The Supreme Court made these comments at the time of hearing the AAP councillor's plea after the Bharatiya Janata Party won the mayoral election after the Returning Officer scraped eight opposition votes. Aam Aadmi Party's councillor Kuldeep Dhalor had filed a petition after losing the mayor election to BJP's Party's Manoj Sonkar on Jan 30. BJP's Sonkar received 16 votes as opposed to Kumar's 12 votes. The action of rejecting eight votes of the AAP-Congress alliance as invalid sparked the allegations of vote tampering. (With inputs from agencies)

Chandigarh Mayor Polls: SC orders fresh counting of votes, seeks ballots and video recordings

<p>Following the Supreme Court's criticism of the municipal poll officer for "defacing" the ballot paper in the Chandigarh Mayor polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) presented CCTV footage on Monday, claiming that the BJP Presiding officer openly destroyed and invalidated votes.</p>

<p>Sharing the CCTV footage as 'proof' of the ballot paper tampering by the civic poll officer, the Aam Aadmi Party, in a post on X, wrote, "Now accept it, BJP. What can be a greater proof than this? See how the Presiding Officer of BJP openly destroyed the flag of democracy by cancelling the votes himself. This is a living proof of BJP's dictatorship."</p>

<p>The Supreme Court had slammed the poll officer who held the Chandigarh Mayor elections and said that it is obvious that the returning officer has "defaced" the ballot papers.</p>

<p>"Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. We are appalled. This man should be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of the Returning Officer?," Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.</p>

<p>The apex court further ordered the preservation of an entire record of the election process including ballot papers, videography and other material through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court.</p>

<p>Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other party leaders on February 2 staged a protest in Delhi against the BJP over the Chandigarh mayoral elections.</p>

<p>During the protest, Kejriwal said, "BJP messes up in elections; there were often allegations that BJP wins elections by messing up; BJP steals election votes, tampers with EVMs gets names removed from the voter list, and adds fake names, we heard. We used to hear that fake votes were cast but never found any proof. There is a verse written in the Gita, 'Yada Yada hi Dharmasya Glanirbhavati Bharata';&nbsp;whenever too much sin is committed on this earth, then the God above will come to the earth."</p>

<p>"This election in Chandigarh shows that they are the pot of sin. How did it get filled? When the pot of sin gets filled too much, then nature moves its broom, and God moves its broom and corrects things. The Chandigarh election was a small one. The world's biggest party was caught stealing votes in the Chandigarh elections; it was caught red-handed," he added.&nbsp;</p>


Following the Supreme Court's criticism of the municipal poll officer for "defacing" the ballot paper in the Chandigarh Mayor polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) presented CCTV footage on Monday, claiming that the BJP Presiding officer openly destroyed and invalidated votes.

Following the Supreme Court's criticism of the municipal poll officer for "defacing" the ballot paper in the Chandigarh Mayor polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) presented CCTV footage on Monday, claiming that the BJP Presiding officer openly destroyed and invalidated votes. Sharing the CCTV footage as 'proof' of the ballot paper tampering by the civic poll officer, the Aam Aadmi Party, in a post on X, wrote, "Now accept it, BJP. What can be a greater proof than this? See how the Presiding Officer of BJP openly destroyed the flag of democracy by cancelling the votes himself. This is a living proof of BJP's dictatorship." The Supreme Court had slammed the poll officer who held the Chandigarh Mayor elections and said that it is obvious that the returning officer has "defaced" the ballot papers. "Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. We are appalled. This man should be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of the Returning Officer?," Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said. The apex court further ordered the preservation of an entire record of the election process including ballot papers, videography and other material through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other party leaders on February 2 staged a protest in Delhi against the BJP over the Chandigarh mayoral elections. During the protest, Kejriwal said, "BJP messes up in elections; there were often allegations that BJP wins elections by messing up; BJP steals election votes, tampers with EVMs gets names removed from the voter list, and adds fake names, we heard. We used to hear that fake votes were cast but never found any proof. There is a verse written in the Gita, 'Yada Yada hi Dharmasya Glanirbhavati Bharata'; whenever too much sin is committed on this earth, then the God above will come to the earth." "This election in Chandigarh shows that they are the pot of sin. How did it get filled? When the pot of sin gets filled too much, then nature moves its broom, and God moves its broom and corrects things. The Chandigarh election was a small one. The world's biggest party was caught stealing votes in the Chandigarh elections; it was caught red-handed," he added.

India: AAP presents 'proof' of ballot paper tampering by BJP in Chandigarh mayor elections

<p>Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday (Feb 2) alleged that some of its top leaders and MLAs were illegally detained and placed under house arrest ahead of the party’s planned protest against the national ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Delhi Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohd Iqbal have been placed under house arrest, alleged top AAP leader Gopal Rai. He&nbsp;added that some of their councillors and MLAs were also detained as they planned to stage a protest outside BJP headquarter in New Delhi in the wake of alleged fraud in Chandigarh mayor elections that BJP won.</p>

<h2><strong>Heavy police presence across Central Delhi</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, a heavy police presence was observed on Friday across central Delhi as both BJP and AAP planned protests against each other. BJP said it was protesting against ‘corruption’ by the AAP party.</p>

<p>Citing police deployment, AAP leader Gopal Rai said BJP was scared of AAP’s protest.</p>

<p>“Currently, many of our MLAs have been put under house arrest including Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Delhi’s Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohmmad Iqbal,” said Rai.</p>

<p>He demanded immediate release of all detained leaders.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that their right to hold peaceful protests against the BJP was being curtailed by the authorities.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">VIDEO | “We all saw how ballot papers were stolen during the Chandigarh Mayoral election. So, we are holding a peaceful protest against it. Barricades have been put up at various locations, and police have reached every AAP leader's residence. So what is it? Dictatorship?,” says… <a href="https://t.co/1SzboL6d29">pic.twitter.com/1SzboL6d29</a></p>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1753283312054153614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>In a post on X, Kejriwal said, "First votes were stolen in the Chandigarh mayoral elections. Now, people coming to protest peacefully against this are being stopped at various places across Delhi."</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US approves sale of armed drones to India for nearly $4 billion</strong></p>

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<p>Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said, "Heavy barricading all across Delhi. Buses full of AAP volunteers being detained. Hundreds of para-military forces outside the AAP office." "Why is the BJP so scared of a protest on the Chandigarh mayoral elections?".</p>

<h2><strong>Controversy over Chandigarh mayor elections</strong></h2>

<p>The mayor election in Chandigarh took place on Tuesday (Jan 30), which was won by BJP as its candidate secured 16 votes while the AAP party candidates could manage only&nbsp;12.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw3HDS5BwKO4QNCrKleR-Q9m" data-ved="2ahUKEwi7ypLXyoyEAxXJTWcHHd_pBQMQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-tense-as-aap-plans-protest-against-alleged-chandigarh-mayoral-polls-rigging-security-heightened-686277" jsname="YKoRaf">Delhi tense as AAP plans protest against alleged Chandigarh mayoral poll rigging</a></strong></p>

<p>However, the ruckus erupted after eight of the opposition votes were declared invalid. Opposition councillors alleged ballot tampering after invalidation of eight votes. The BJP has rejected the allegations.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday (Feb 2) alleged that some of its top leaders and MLAs were illegally detained and placed under house arrest ahead of the party’s planned protest against the national ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday (Feb 2) alleged that some of its top leaders and MLAs were illegally detained and placed under house arrest ahead of the party’s planned protest against the national ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Delhi Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohd Iqbal have been placed under house arrest, alleged top AAP leader Gopal Rai. He added that some of their councillors and MLAs were also detained as they planned to stage a protest outside BJP headquarter in New Delhi in the wake of alleged fraud in Chandigarh mayor elections that BJP won. Heavy police presence across Central Delhi Meanwhile, a heavy police presence was observed on Friday across central Delhi as both BJP and AAP planned protests against each other. BJP said it was protesting against ‘corruption’ by the AAP party. Citing police deployment, AAP leader Gopal Rai said BJP was scared of AAP’s protest. “Currently, many of our MLAs have been put under house arrest including Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Delhi’s Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohmmad Iqbal,” said Rai. He demanded immediate release of all detained leaders. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that their right to hold peaceful protests against the BJP was being curtailed by the authorities. VIDEO | “We all saw how ballot papers were stolen during the Chandigarh Mayoral election. So, we are holding a peaceful protest against it. Barricades have been put up at various locations, and police have reached every AAP leader's residence. So what is it? Dictatorship?,” says… pic.twitter.com/1SzboL6d29 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 2, 2024 × In a post on X, Kejriwal said, "First votes were stolen in the Chandigarh mayoral elections. Now, people coming to protest peacefully against this are being stopped at various places across Delhi." Watch: US approves sale of armed drones to India for nearly $4 billion × Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said, "Heavy barricading all across Delhi. Buses full of AAP volunteers being detained. Hundreds of para-military forces outside the AAP office." "Why is the BJP so scared of a protest on the Chandigarh mayoral elections?". Controversy over Chandigarh mayor elections The mayor election in Chandigarh took place on Tuesday (Jan 30), which was won by BJP as its candidate secured 16 votes while the AAP party candidates could manage only 12. Also read: Delhi tense as AAP plans protest against alleged Chandigarh mayoral poll rigging However, the ruckus erupted after eight of the opposition votes were declared invalid. Opposition councillors alleged ballot tampering after invalidation of eight votes. The BJP has rejected the allegations. (With inputs from agencies)

AAP alleges leaders detained, placed under house arrest ahead of planned protest against BJP