Chandigarh mayoral polls: AAP candidate Kuldeep challenges BJP win before HC, hearing today

The petitioner Kuldeep Kumar Tita has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking to set aside the Chandigarh mayor election process, alleging it to be the "result of complete fraud”

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Jan 31, 2024 07:52 AM IST

The petitioner has sought to set aside the process of the election alleging it to be the "result of complete fraud and forgery laid upon the democratic process by the respondents and especially Manoj Kumar Sonkar and the presiding officer.” (Express Photo by Jasbir Singh Malhi)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court shall once again hear the case pertaining to Chandigarh’s Mayoral election on Wednesday.

Soon after the results of election was announced today for the post of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor amid Congress and AAP councillors accusing presiding officer Anil Masih of rigging the polls at behest of the BJP; Kuldeep Kumar – the AAP party candidate for the Mayor’s post challenged the Mayoral elections that were held today.

The petitioner has approached High Court seeking directions to “hold the elections afresh after setting aside the process of election that was carried out today” and called today’s election “a result of complete fraud and forgery”.

The petitioner has also demanded that the “fresh elections should be held under the supervision of a Retired High Court Judge, a thorough investigation of today’s election process be carried out by an independent investigation agency headed by SSP (Chandigarh), entire process of today’s election including the ballot papers and videographic evidence be sealed and the newly elected Mayor be restrained from discharging the functions of Mayor as the entire process of election is vitiated by fraud”.

The petition challenging today’s Mayoral election was filed by Kuldeep Kumar through counsels Senior Advocate Gurminder Singh, Advocates RPS Bara, KS Kharbanda and Ferry Sofat.

The petitioner has sought “setting aside the process of Mayoral election” and alleged it to be a “result of complete fraud and forgery laid upon the democratic process by the respondents and especially Manoj Kumar Sonkar (the newly elected BJP Mayor) and the Presiding Officer Anil Masih”.

The petitioner has also alleged that the conduct of respondents is in “complete derogation of the orders passed by the High Court previously to hold free and fair elections”.

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The petitioner has impleaded eight respondents in the petition. These include UT Chandigarh through Secretary (Home department), Deputy Commissioner (Prescribed Authority for holding the MC elections), MC Commissioner, Joint Commissioner (MC), Chandigarh’s DGP, SSP, Anil Masih (the presiding officer appointed to hold election) and Manoj Kumar Sonkar (the newly elected Mayor who is also a BJP councilor from Ward No. 7).

The petitioner has pleaded that “the election was not held in a free and fair manner and there were gross violations while counting of votes. The ballot papers were tampered and subsequently declared invalid. The result was announced in favour of BJP and against the alliance of AAP and Congress, resulting in filing of the present Writ”.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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