Chandigarh Mayor Polls Deferred as Presiding Officer Falls 'Sick', Cong Says 'BJP Wasn't Ready for Defeat'

The Chandigarh mayoral elections, which were scheduled for today, have been postponed till further notice. The polls were postponed by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation citing the ill health of Anil Masih, who was nominated as the presiding authority for the elections.

“It is informed that the undersigned has telephonically received intimation regarding the ill health of Sh Anil Masih who has been nominated as Presiding authority for the meeting scheduled on 18.1.24 for the post of mayor u/60 (a) read with Regulation 6(1) of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation(Procedure and Conduct of Business) Regulation 1996,” Municipal Corporation said in a notice.

“It is requested to restrict the entry in view of the law and order situation till further orders are received,” it added.

Meanwhile, several councillors also received a text message attributing the postponement to Masih’s ill health.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened outside the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation office.

The announcement has triggered a protest by the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)– two INDIA Bloc parties that have formed an alliance for the mayoral elections. Councillors of both parties staged a demonstration outside the civic body building.

Reacting to the development, the Congress said the Bharatiya Janata Party “wasn’t ready to face defeat”.

“The BJP knew that they were to lose. That is why they played this ploy. Had they been fair, another presiding officer would have been appointed immediately if the previous one is said to have fallen ill,” said Congress leader and former MP Pawan Kumar Bansal, who was present at the protest site.

“The ‘Operation Lotus’ has failed in Chandigarh. They (BJP) can sense their defeat. They lost morally when they did not even turn up (to cast vote). We (AAP and Congress) all are here to cast our votes. This shows that the BJP cannot accept their defeat,” said Chandigarh Congress chief Harmohinder Singh Lucky.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha also reached the spot and termed the move as a gimmick by the BJP.

“We will be knocking on the doors of the High Court now. We will take justice from the court. Just see if in this small election, BJP can get so fearful about our alliance…then what about the alliance on national level,” he said.

At present, with 14 councillors, the BJP is the biggest party in the 35-member MC House, while AAP is a close second with 13 members. The Congress has seven councillors, whereas one councillor is from SAD.