The I.N.D.I Alliance, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), spearheaded the Chandigarh Mayoral Election of 2024, competing against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Unfortunately for the I.N.D.I Alliance, the BJP emerged victorious, surpassing their combined efforts. The electoral drama unfolded as the AAP-led I.N.D.I Alliance secured only 12 votes, while the BJP managed to garner 16 votes out of a total of 36, leaving 8 votes invalidated.
During the announcement of the results, tensions escalated, leading to chaotic scenes as candidates from the I.N.D.I Alliance and AAP attempted to seize control of the ballot papers. The aftermath witnessed a flurry of accusations and counter-accusations, turning social media into a battleground for the dissemination of conflicting narratives.
Amidst the chaos, the I.N.D.I Alliance, Congress, and AAP parties took to social media to assert that biased actions had compromised the election. A 22-32 second video clip circulated, purportedly showing intentional manipulation of ballots by the presiding officer, Anil Masih. The allegations were severe, suggesting a deliberate effort to invalidate votes in favor of the BJP.
An interview with Anil Masih, the appointed presiding officer, revealed a different perspective. Masih emphasized that he had been tasked with conducting a fair and peaceful election, addressing all members, including those from Parliament, before the commencement of the electoral process. He recounted an incident during the voting process when AAP and Congress councillors raised concerns about the condition of their ballot papers. In response, Masih replaced 11 ballot papers at their request, ensuring transparency in the electoral process.
When the time came for the results to be declared, the presiding officer announced that the BJP candidate had secured 16 votes, the AAP candidate 12 votes, and 8 votes were deemed invalid. Chaos ensued when Masih invited representatives to verify the ballot papers on stage. AAP and Congress candidates disrupted the process, tearing some papers in the process.
In the aftermath of the incident, Congress, AAP, and the I.N.D.I Alliance continued to spread misinformation on social media. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal accused Masih of favoring the BJP and highlighted the unprecedented 25% invalid votes. Despite the heated exchanges on social media, it is noteworthy that no party or candidate took formal legal action by filing a case or complaint with the Election Commission or the Honorable Court. The conflicting narratives surrounding the events of the Chandigarh Mayoral Election have left the situation in a state of uncertainty and contention.
Unlike the victory in the Chandigarh mayoral election, the BJP has registered a historic win by securing victories in three states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, with a significant majority. This raises serious concerns about the I.N.D.I Alliance and its partnership, as internal conflicts within the alliance are evident in many states across India where regional parties hold more influence than the Congress. Additionally, every party’s leader is claiming to become the next Prime Minister, whereas the BJP has already set its goals up to 2047.
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