Chandigarh mayoral polls: Cong, AAP hold joint protest against 'tampering' with ballots
Chandigarh (PTI): The Congress and the AAP on Wednesday jointly held a protest here, a day after the BJP swept the Chandigarh mayoral polls.
The councillors of the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress shouted slogans against the BJP, claiming "murder of democracy" during the mayoral polls which took place on Tuesday.
The protesters gathered near the Sector 17 police station here to lodge a police complaint in connection with the mayoral polls.
Heavy police force was deployed and barricades were erected near the police station.
The protesters demanded action against presiding officer Anil Masih, accusing him of tampering with some ballot papers during the polls which led to declaration of eight votes as invalid.
"If there is any threat to democracy in the country, it is from the BJP," said AAP leader S S Ahluwalia.
Senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal, Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky and several AAP leaders joined the protest.
In a setback to the Congress-AAP alliance, the BJP on Tuesday swept Chandigarh mayoral poll, retaining all the three posts. The Congress and the AAP alleged tampering with the ballot papers by the presiding officer.
Councillors of the two INDIA bloc parties created a ruckus in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation House as the result for the mayor's post was declared. They boycotted the next phase of elections to the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.
BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar defeated AAP's Kuldeep Kumar for the mayor's post, polling 16 votes against the 12 bagged by his rival. Eight votes were declared invalid.
BJP nominees Kuljit Sandhu and Rajinder Sharma were declared elected to the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor respectively as they secured 16 votes each.
Opposition councillors alleged tampering with the ballot papers in the elections, a charge rubbished by the BJP.
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Stalin claims DMK secured 1.54 crore votes
Chennai (PTI): DMK president M K Stalin on Tuesday, in a veiled reference to the TVK, claimed that the party that won additional constituencies has gained only 17.43 lakh more votes than the DMK.
He was referring to the April 23 Assembly polls where the DMK and its allies secured 74 seats, with the Dravidian party netting 59 constituencies.
In a statement, Stalin said, "the percentage difference in votes between us and them is just 3.52 per cent," in an apparent reference to the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kahzagam emerged victorious in the polls, the results of which were announced on Monday.
Claiming that the DMK alliance has secured 1.54 crore votes, Stalin said, "I consider each and every one of your votes as an invaluable token of trust".
Stating that DMK has been in power several times, he said "there is no victory we have not seen and there is no defeat we have not faced".
"Whether in victory or defeat, those who regard them equally and continue their journey toward their ideals are the comrades of the party", he said adding "you are the lifeblood and roots of the movement".
"The harvest of 1.54 crore votes is the fruit of your commitment", he said.
"What return can I offer for your hard work? With the feeling of being the chief worker, we will continue our journey," the DMK chief added.
Stalin said "if we are the ruling party, we will formulate schemes for the people. If we are the opposition party, we will fight for the people's demands. In that regard, now as a strong opposition party, we will continue to work for the people".
Asserting that the DMK will continue the journey of taking forward the policies of the century-old great Dravidian movement, protecting race, language, and nation, the DMK leader said "in our journey, I will not leave anyone behind. We will win again".
