The apex court’s bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, scrutinized the contested ballots and identified a “deliberate effort to deface eight ballots” cast in favor of Kuldeep Kumar. This revelation has not only altered the outcome of the mayoral race but also highlighted the integrity of the electoral process.

This controversy began when Manoj Kumar Sonkar was declared the winner of the mayoral elections after eight votes supposedly cast for the AAP-Congress alliance candidate, Kuldeep Kumar, were invalidated under questionable circumstances. This led the AAP to challenge the election results, citing evidence of manipulation by the Returning Officer, as captured on CCTV footage during the counting process.The footage captured Mr. Masih discreetly altering certain ballots. Midway through, he looks up, suddenly aware that the CCTV cameras are documenting his actions.

The political alliance between AAP and Congress, representing the broader INDIA bloc’s effort, faced a severe test following the controversial election results. Despite winning 20 out of the 36 votes cast, the invalidation of eight votes had initially swung the victory in favor of the BJP candidate. The Supreme Court’s intervention has now rectified this, reinstating Kuldeep Kumar as the rightful Mayor.

However, the challenges for the newly declared Mayor and the INDIA bloc are far from over. Ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict, three AAP councilors defected to the BJP, potentially complicating the majority equation in the 36-member council. With these shifts, the BJP’s strength in the council has reached a critical number of 19, considering its own members, the support from a Shiromani Akali Dal candidate, and BJP MP Kirron Kher. With three AAP members switching sides, the AAP-Congress alliance’s strength in the council has diminished to 17 votes. This could pose a challenge for AAP-Congress Mayor Kuldeep Kumar if a no-confidence motion is initiated against him in the council.

As Kuldeep Kumar takes on the mayoral responsibilities, the focus now shifts to how the INDIA bloc will navigate the complexities of council politics in the aftermath of this landmark ruling.

BY – KASHISH JAIN