Chandigarh Mayoral Polls: Will Direct On Recounting With 8 Invalidated Votes As Valid, Says SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday examined the eight ‘defaced’ ballot papers of the Chandigarh mayoral poll and video recording of the counting process following the contentious victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Pulling up returning officer Anil Masih for ‘contempt of court”, the court said ordered to treat the eight invalidated ballots as valid.

A bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said the invalidated ballots “shall be recounted… treated as valid” and “results declared on the basis of that”.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor reacted to the top court’s ruling thanking it for “saving democracy”. “Thank you, SC for saving democracy in these difficult times!” Kejriwal wrote in an X post.

The BJP won the January 30  Chandigarh mayoral polls, defeating the comfortably placed AAP-Congress alliance candidate after the returning officer declared eight votes of the coalition partners as invalid. The move drew accusations of tampering with eight ballots.

WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT SAY ON MONDAY?

Voicing its deep concern over “horse-trading”, the top court on Monday said instead of ordering fresh polls, it may consider a declaration of results based on votes already cast.

“We are deeply concerned about the horse-trading which is taking place,” a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said on Monday, and directed the registrar general of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to depute a judicial officer to bring the records safely to New Delhi and present them before it on Tuesday.