NEW DELHI: India's Supreme Court has strongly criticized the tampering of ballot papers by a returning officer during the recent mayoral elections in Chandigarh, where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious.
The court responded to a complaint filed by an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor, who alleged misconduct in the elections. The court has now directed Chandigarh authorities to preserve the ballots and video evidence of the incident.
After watching the video footage, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud expressed dismay, calling it a "mockery of democracy." He raised concerns about the returning officer's behavior, stating that the officer appeared to be defacing ballot papers.
The court insisted on prosecuting the returning officer for his actions, emphasizing the need for accountability in the electoral process.
The controversy arose after the BJP won the mayoral polls on January 30, with Manoj Sonkar defeating AAP's Kuldeep Kumar. The court's comments followed a petition by an AAP councillor challenging a previous court order that denied calls for fresh mayoral elections in Chandigarh.
This incident has added a new layer of tension to the political landscape as India gears up for upcoming parliamentary elections. Opposition parties, including the Congress and AAP alliance, are working to challenge the BJP's leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.