Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
India

Chandigarh mayor elections: Presiding officer falls sick, polling postponed till Feb 6

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Jan, 2024 12:42 PM
  • Chandigarh mayor elections: Presiding officer falls sick, polling postponed till Feb 6

Chandigarh, Jan 18 (IANS) The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation mayoral election was postponed on Thursday as presiding officer Anil Masih was unwell. In the afternoon, the administration announced the election to the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor would be held on February 6.

"This decision follows a thorough assessment of the security and law and order situation by the Senior Superintendent of Police," it said in a statement.

Earlier on Thursday, a message received by councillors reads: "It is informed that a telephonic message has been received regarding the ill health of Anil Masih, who has been nominated as presiding authority for the meeting scheduled on January 18 for the post of Mayor u/60 (a) read with Regulation 6(1) of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (Procedure and Conduct of Business) Regulation, 1996. In view of the above, it is requested not to reach MC office till further orders are received."

High drama was witnessed as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress councillors registered their protest over the postponement of the polls at the last minute.

Both the Congress and the AAP have lashed out at the BJP after the cancellation of polls.

Both are a coalition of the Opposition's INDIA bloc, months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"I have been informed that Congress workers and councillors are not being allowed to go inside the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation office because the presiding officer is not well and he has been hospitalised. They (BJP) want to stop the election... we will move the High Court," Congress leader Pawan Bansal told the media.

All eyes were on the Chandigarh mayoral polls as this would the first test the coming together of the AAP MP Raghav Chadha said: "It is clear that INDIA alliance is winning this election and the BJP is losing. The BJP has got scared of the INDIA alliance."

He said if a presiding officer has fallen ill, then another presiding officer can be appointed to hold the polls.

"We had valid passes for going to the MC office and then it was informed that entry was closed as the presiding officer had suddenly fallen sick.

"He's actually not sick. These are BJP's tactics and it shows that the BJP can stoop to any level to end democracy and free and fair elections," the Rajya Sabha member said.

As per the alliance, the AAP will fight for the mayor's seat while the Congress will contest the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor posts.

The meeting for polling through secret ballot was to take place at 11 a.m. in the Assembly hall of the municipal corporation.

In the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP has 14 councillors, the AAP has 13 councillors, and the Congress has seven.

The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor in the House.

Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh had nominated councillor Masih as the presiding authority and he would preside over the February 6 meeting to elect the Mayor, adhering to the established regulations and procedures.

MORE India ARTICLES

Cash-for-job scam: 21 govt officials suspended in Assam

Cash-for-job scam: 21 govt officials suspended in Assam
At least 21 high-ranked government officers including senior police personnel were suspended by Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria for their alleged involvement in a cash-for-job scam in the recruitment examinations conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission, an official said on Friday. Ten officers of the Assam Civil Service (ACS) and 11 officers of the Assam Police Service (APS) are among the suspended officials.

Cash-for-job scam: 21 govt officials suspended in Assam

Cocaine worth Rs 220 cr seized from Denmark-bound ship at Paradip port

Cocaine worth Rs 220 cr seized from Denmark-bound ship at Paradip port
Customs officials have seized a large quantity of cocaine from a Denmark-bound ship berthed at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal at Paradip port during a raid, an official said Friday. The officials have recovered cocaine weighing 22 kg valued at around Rs 220 crore in the international market during the search of the ship that continued on Friday.

Cocaine worth Rs 220 cr seized from Denmark-bound ship at Paradip port

Congress taunts BJP after World Bank withdraws paper flagging decline over toilet usage

Congress taunts BJP after World Bank withdraws paper flagging decline over toilet usage
Congress on Friday taunted the government over the success of Swachh Bharat Mission saying that the World Bank has to withdraw its paper that flagged decline in the use of toilets in rural India between 2018 and 2021. The Congress asked the government that instead of suppressing data and declaring victory over open defecation, an open and transparent audit of toilet usage and sanitation in India, along with reversing budget cuts.  

Congress taunts BJP after World Bank withdraws paper flagging decline over toilet usage

Increase in BSF's jurisdiction does not take away powers of Punjab Police, says SC

Increase in BSF's jurisdiction does not take away powers of Punjab Police, says SC
A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was hearing an original suit filed by the Punjab government under Article 131 of the Constitution against the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification issued in October 2021.  

Increase in BSF's jurisdiction does not take away powers of Punjab Police, says SC

‘Maximum global talk, minimum local walk’ is principle followed by PM Modi: Congress

‘Maximum global talk, minimum local walk’ is principle followed by PM Modi: Congress
The Congress on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who told the COP 28 meeting in Dubai that India has "struck a great balance between ecology and economy", saying this was "yet another of his trademark falsehoods". 

‘Maximum global talk, minimum local walk’ is principle followed by PM Modi: Congress

Forest scam: ED searches premises of former minister in Punjab

Forest scam: ED searches premises of former minister in Punjab
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out searches at multiple locations in Punjab, including the premises of former Congress Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, in connection with the alleged forest scam. An ED source said that the agency teams are searching the premises of Dharamsot and a contractor.  

Forest scam: ED searches premises of former minister in Punjab