Chandigarh BJP on back foot, Opposition ups offensive

Sandeep Rana

Advertisement

Chandigarh, February 7

Following the recent Supreme Court observations, the city BJP leadership has gone on the back foot, while the INDIA bloc alliance of AAP and the Congress is on the offensive.

Both alliance partners have stepped up their protest campaign against the recently conducted mayoral polls accusing the BJP of “murdering the democracy”. While both parties are daily holding press conferences and demonstrations, the BJP is tight-lipped with only response coming from it — “the matter is sub judice”.

Before the SC observations, the ruling BJP had been vocal about the allegations, claiming that the ballot papers were deliberately invalidated by AAP and Congress councillors as some of them were not in favour of INDIA bloc’s mayoral nominee Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor (Tita). Now, for the past two-three days, city BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra had responded to mediapersons’ queries with “the matter is sub judice, let the court decide.”

BJP’s new Mayor Monoj Sonkar has also gone silent. Sonkar has now stopped picking phone calls made by Chandigarh Tribune for his response or comment over the issue. Other BJP councillors, who had been claiming that the Opposition councillors cast invalid votes, seem to be avoiding giving statements or speaking in public.

Meanwhile, sources said the BJP was silently readying its strategy, especially with regard to presenting its case strongly before the apex court in the next hearing on February 19.

Reacting to this, AAP councillor and mayoral nominee Dhalor alleged, “They are silent because they have got caught on camera while doing the wrong. As far as we are concerned, through protests, we will reach out to public and tell them about the fraud the BJP is doing in polls.”

BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar had defeated Dhalor to win the post of Mayor amid Opposition allegations of tampering with the polled votes by Anil Masih. Sonkar had polled 16 votes and Dhalor 12. Eight votes were declared invalid.

Rupani holds party meeting

Chandigarh BJP in charge Vijay Rupani on Wednesday reached the city and held a meeting with office-bearers of the party. Party leaders said it was an organisational meeting.