In a move to reshape the voting process for Chandigarh’s mayoral elections, Kuldeep Kumar, representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has approached the Supreme Court with an urgent request to shift from secret ballots to a “show of hands.” With the elections set for January 30, this plea aims to ensure greater transparency and fairness in the voting process.
Presiding over the initial hearing, a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh asked the Chandigarh administration to weigh in on whether an independent observer could oversee the polls to guarantee impartiality. The Court acknowledged Kumar’s concerns about voter freedom and fairness, hinting at the potential appointment of a retired judge to supervise proceedings.
Kumar’s push for reform stems from controversies during the 2024 mayoral elections, where ballot tampering under Returning Officer Anil Masih allegedly swayed the results in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. Following legal intervention, the Supreme Court had overturned the results and declared Kumar the rightful winner.
This year, Kumar hopes to avoid a repeat of past irregularities by advocating for a voting method where transparency is paramount. His legal team also pointed out discrepancies in the calculation of his previous mayoral term, urging clarity on tenure rulings.
The Supreme Court will reconvene on January 27 to address the administration’s response and finalize steps for ensuring fair elections. Until then, the electoral process continues, with heightened scrutiny likely to shape its outcome.
