AAP SC declares AAP's Kuldeep Kumar as Chandigarh Mayor, Arvind Kejriwal hails decision as 'massive victory'
New Delhi/IBNS: In a historic move, the Supreme Court Tuesday declared Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Kuldeep Kumar the winner of last month's Chandigarh mayoral election, ending weeks of controversy after Returning Officer Anil Masih was caught on camera invalidating and discarding eight votes in his favour.
The order - preceded by the counting of votes, including those erroneously rejected, in the courtroom rather than a counting centre - cancels the earlier result that saw the Bharatiya Janata Party's Manoj Sonkar elected Mayor.
The top court also initiated a contempt of court charge against Masih, which came down strongly on the former BJP Minority Cell member, who was warned of prosecution if he lied in the court.
The court examined the eight defaced ballot papers of the Chandigarh mayor poll and video recording of the counting process following the contentious victory of the BJP and ordered to treat the eight invalidated ballots as valid.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud directed to treat the eight invalidated ballots as valid.
The Bench said that the invalidated ballots “shall be recounted… treated as valid” and “results declared on the basis of that”.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal has hailed the verdict.
Addressing the media, the Aam Aadmi Party convenor said, “Truth may be troubled but not defeated. The Constitution and democracy ultimately won the Chandigarh Mayor election.”
This has happened for the first time in India's history, he said adding, “The Supreme Court’s decision at a time when dictatorship is prevalent across the country, democracy and all institutions are being trampled, holds immense significance for safeguarding democracy.”
Referring to it as the first and massive victory of the INDIA bloc, he said, “We have snatched victory from them. They had stolen the vote but we fought and won. Those who say that BJP can't be defeated - BJP can be defeated with unity, with good planning and strategy and hard work. These results prove the same, he added.
Kejriwal further congratulated Kumar on becoming the Mayor of Chandigarh. In a social media post, Kejriwal said, “Kuldeep Kumar is a boy from a poor family. On behalf of the INDIA alliance, many congratulations on becoming the Mayor of Chandigarh."
"This became possible only because of Indian democracy and the honourable Supreme Court. We have to preserve the impartiality of our democracy and autonomous institutions at any cost,” he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the mayor election in Chandigarh stating, “At last the truth has prevailed. They have got a befitting reply to the hooliganism openly committed by BJP.”
Meanwhile, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the BJP, asserting that the country's biggest political party, BJP, was seen doing malpractices on camera during a mayoral election. Supreme Court has exposed the central government in this matter, he said while addressing the media.
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