31012024-CT-01.qxd 1/31/2024 12:41 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune UT TO HAVE TWO-COACH METRO INSTEAD OF METROLITE MAJOR BLAZE IN FURNITURE MARKET, 5 SHOPS GUTTED 4 MISCREANTS NABBED, TWO ROBBERY CASES SOLVED On the advice of Union Government, all stakeholders have agreed to have a two-coach Metro in tricity. P3 A major fire broke out at the furniture market in Sectors 53-54, causing loss worth lakhs of rupees. P3 UT police have arrested four persons for their alleged involvement in two robbery incidents at Ram Darbar. P3 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 348 PANCHKULA 102 MOHALI 336 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF WOMAN HELD WITH LOADED MAGAZINE Chandigarh: A woman has been arrested for possessing a loaded magazine. She was caught with a magazine loaded with seven cartridges of .32 mm at the main gate of the Punjab Civil Secretariat. A complaint in this regard was filed by CISF Inspector Deepa Bhatnagar, security in charge at the Secretariat. The police have registered a case against the woman under the Arms Act at the Sector 3 police station TNS WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH APNI MANDI: Sectors 15, 40, 46 and 52 MOHALI APNI MANDI: Phase11 PANCHKULA APNI MANDI: Sector 25 GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 19°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 19.6°C | MIN 7.2°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5.58 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7:13 AM » WEDNESDAY | 31 JANUARY 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Many firsts to mayoral polls marred by ‘rigging’ Media not allowed into assembly hall, party agents asked to stay away from counting table Sandeep Rana Today’s ❝alliance iswin has proved that the election. Itstooped sothatto win ❝This time,affiliated with the Election comes ❝The BJP is evident low Masih officer, who is the presiding under HC lens this incompatible. To hide their defeat, they are resorting deliberately put marks on the votes BJP, checked all ballot papers and MAYOR SR DY MAYOR DY MAYOR MANOJ SONKAR KULJEET SANDHU RAJINDER SHARMA Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 30 There were many firsts to the mayoral polls today that turned out to be a major setback to the AAP-Congress alliance under the INDIA bloc that was hoping to set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with its seemingly imminent victory. The alliance lost the Mayor’s seat as eight votes were declared invalid and the lone SAD councillor voted for the BJP For the first time, the elec. tion, which usually starts at 11 am, began at 10 am. Councillors of AAP and the Congress were the firsts to reach the assembly hall of the MC. The proceedings finally started at 10:40 am when UT Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh arrived in the hall. Mediapersons were not allowed to sit in the assembly hall to cover the polls. They were made to sit in the conference hall to cover the event live on screens. The audio in the conference hall remained muted till 10:40 am when the national anthem was played to formally start the proceedings. Unlike the assembly hall, the mediapersons could hear only those speaking on the mike in the hall. to lies. Even Congress councillors were not in favour of AAP’s Mayor. That is why they cast invalid votes. Jatinder Pal Malhotra, BJP PRESIDENT to render these invalid. The people of Chandigarh will never forgive the BJP for such blatant misuse of machinery. HS Lucky, CONGRESS CHIEF declared eight invalid, without showing these to anyone and providing any reason for declaring votes invalid. Prem Kumar Garg, EX-AAP CHIEF Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 30 Hours after the BJP candidate emerged victorious in the UT mayoral poll, elected AAP councillor Kuldeep Kumar moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking to set aside the election process, describing it as a “result of complete fraud and forgery laid upon the democratic process”. Councillors of the Congress and AAP stage a protest after the BJP candidate was declared winner in the mayoral election at the Municipal Corporation building in Sector 17 on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY VIDEO OF MASIH SIGNING PAPERS GOES VIRAL The video of Masih signing the ballot papers went viral and was trending among top trends even on “X”, a microblogging site. Many people shared the video and alleged Masih had tampered with the votes by putting a mark on papers. However, Masih, who had earlier reported sick leading to the postponement of the poll, refuted all allegations Unlike the previous practice, the party agents were not allowed to be present near the counting table for inspection. levelled by the Opposition and accused them of attempts such as “booth capturing” instead. BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi read the rules stating that there was no provision for the presiding officer to call councillors c m y b SAD VOTES FOR BJP Other than 14 votes of the BJP councillors and one of MP Kirron Kher, ex officio member, the SAD’s lone councillor, Hardeep Singh, who had boycotted the previous two mayoral elections in the current term of the MC, also voted for the BJP. “My vote for the three posts was against the alliance of AAP and the Congress,” he told Chandigarh Tribune. near the table. AAP councillor Yogesh Dhingra objected to it, saying that this was the practice continued on page 2 Inconsolable Cong-AAP mayoral candidate Kuldeep Dhalor. AAP councillor alleges fraud, forgery Directions were also sought to hold the election process afresh in a free and fair manner, in accordance with the rules and regulations, under the supervision of a retired HC Judge to prevent “malpractice”. Kuldeep also sought an investigation continued on page 2 Sonkar beats odds to become Mayor Sandeep Rana ■ What are your priorities Tribune News Service as Mayor? Taking forward the work of our two previous Mayors, clearing the Dadu Majra dump will be my priority. We will clear the dump soon. I will also carry forward the projects started by the BJP . ■ How do you defend yourself against allegations of rigging levelled by Oppn? These allegations are baseless. The councillors of “mahathagbandhan” have deliberately rendered votes invalid. This is a selfish alliance to gain power. ■ How will you ensure a smooth running of House? Once I have become Mayor, the councillors of all parties are equal for me. I will listen to all of them and there will be no bias against anyone. My main motive is to do welfare of the city by taking all along. Chandigarh, January 30 Owing to adverse family conditions, Manoj Sonkar, a resident of Mauli Jagran, had to quit his studies after passing Class VIII. It is a big day for him as he became the Mayor of Chandigarh today. His family moved from Lucknow to settle in Chandigarh about 40 years ago. ■ What struggle did you face in life? I was 15 or 16 years old when my father passed away. He used to sell fruit. My family’s condition was not sound as my elder brother looked after us. I had to quit my studies after passing seventh standard. My brothers run a property business and also a chicken shop. I help them and also do social work.
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