The decision for Sonkar to step down was reportedly made after a strategic meeting with the BJP’s senior office-bearers in Delhi, which took place on Saturday.
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In an unexpected development that has significantly impacted the political landscape of Chandigarh, Mayor Manoj Sonkar, affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tendered his resignation late Sunday night on 18th February. This move came on the eve of a crucial Supreme Court hearing concerning the contentious Chandigarh mayoral elections.
Jatinder Malhotra, the Chandigarh BJP chief, articulated the reason behind the resignation, stating,
“Mayor resigned on moral grounds. The AAP and the Congress were vitiating the atmosphere by levelling baseless allegations of votes tampering. Now, when fresh polls will be held, people will get to know who takes the majority.”
This statement underscores the charged political environment and the allegations of electoral malpractice that have marred the recent mayoral polls.
The decision for Sonkar to step down was reportedly made after a strategic meeting with the BJP’s senior office-bearers in Delhi, which took place on Saturday. The party’s high command, after deliberating on the matter, directed Sonkar to resign. A senior BJP leader, preferring anonymity, revealed earlier in the day, “The mayor has been asked to resign, and he will resign today (Sunday) evening. Senior party leaders will be present.”
The controversy took a more serious turn just days before the Supreme Court’s scheduled hearing, with the Chandigarh BJP removing Anil Masih from his position as the presiding officer of the mayoral election. Masih had come under intense scrutiny for allegedly defacing ballot papers, an action that led to the invalidation of eight votes from the Congress-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) combine, significantly affecting the election outcome on January 30. Masih, who also served as the general secretary of the minority cell for the Chandigarh BJP, was slated to appear before the Supreme Court on Monday, tomorrow.
The opposition, comprising the Congress and the AAP, had vocally demanded Sonkar’s removal, accusing him of securing his win through unfair means facilitated by Masih’s actions. Following their defeat, the Congress-AAP alliance sought legal recourse by approaching the Punjab and Haryana High Court, advocating for the annulment of the election results and the conduct of a new mayoral election in Chandigarh.
The Supreme Court’s subsequent involvement brought national attention to the controversy, with the apex court making a stern observation regarding the integrity of the electoral process.
“What happened during the Chandigarh mayor election was a ‘mockery of democracy’ and said, ‘we will not allow democracy to be murdered like this’,”
the court remarked, highlighting the gravity of the allegations. A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, further ordered the presiding officer to present himself at the next hearing scheduled for February 19, signaling the court’s intent to thoroughly investigate the matter.
This unfolding saga in Chandigarh’s political arena not only underscores the challenges facing electoral integrity but also reflects the judiciary’s critical role in safeguarding democratic processes. As the city awaits the Supreme Court’s verdict, the resignation of Mayor Manoj Sonkar marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle to uphold the principles of fairness and transparency in public elections.