In a dramatic new development in the Chandigarh mayoral polls row, Mayor Manoj Sonkar of BJP resigned on Sunday night, a day before the Supreme Court was set to hear the matter.
Quoting sources, an Indian Express report said Sonkar was asked to resign after a meeting of senior office-bearers of the BJP that took place in Delhi with the party high command on Saturday.
“The mayor has been asked to resign, and he will resign today (Sunday) evening. Senior party leaders will be present,” a senior BJP leader told Indian Express earlier in the day on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, three Aam Aadmi Party Chandigarh councillors Punam Devi, Neha Musawat, and Gurcharan Kala joined the BJP in the presence of party National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, in Delhi on Sunday night.
#WATCH | Three Aam Aadmi Party Chandigarh councillors Punam Devi, Neha Musawat, and Gurcharan Kala joined the BJP in the presence of party National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/icgDDMbdi1— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024
“Chandigarh councillors Punam Devi, Neha Musawat, and Gurcharan Kala have joined BJP today. They are unhappy with the behaviour of their party with them. BJP will respect them and they will help in the development of Chandigarh…” Vinod Tawde said.
Neha Musawat, who joined the BJP, said, “AAP party made false promises to us. Today after getting inspired by the works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I have joined BJP…”
Gurcharan Kala also noted he joined the BJP after getting inspired by PM Modi’s work.
“I belonged to BJP and I will also be with BJP… I have joined the party after getting inspired by the works of PM Modi…” the former AAP councillor said.
Manoj Sonkar of BJP had won the Chandigarh mayoral elections on January 30, after eight votes of the INDIA bloc were declared invalid. The Congress-AAP alliance had alleged tampering with ballot papers by the presiding officer, a charge which was rubbished by the BJP.
It was alleged by the opposition that Sonkar had won after presiding officer Anil Masih scribbled on ballot papers and invalidated eight votes of the Congress-AAP combine by himself, an act which was purportedly caught on camera.
Following the polls, the Congress-AAP alliance approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking cancellation of the result and holding the Chandigarh mayor elections again.
On February 5, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the presiding officer in the Chandigarh mayoral polls saying it is evident that he defaced the ballot papers.
The apex court made the remarks while hearing an AAP councillor’s plea challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that refused to grant any interim relief to the party seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh.
With inputs from News18