21022024-CT-01.qxd 2/21/2024 12:38 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune FARMERS TAKE CONTROL OF PLAZAS, NO TOLL FOR 72 HRS SKM STAGES PROTEST AT BJP DIST PRESIDENT'S HOUSE ANGANWADI WORKERS STAGE PROTEST AT FATEHGARH SAHIB Protesting farmers block toll plazas at Dappar, Bhago Majra, KhararKhamano Baroudi, Azizpur. P2 Farmers belonging to SKM protest in front of the house of district BJP president Didar Singh Bhatti. P2 District unit of the Anganwadi Employees' Union stage a protest in front of the DC's office. P2 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 122 PANCHKULA 155 MOHALI 148 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF MAN ARRESTED WITH HEROIN Chandigarh: The police have arrested a 30-year-old Punjab native for possessing 10 grams of heroin. Gulab Singh of Bathinda was arrested near at Sector 52 with the drug. A case under the NDPS Act. TNS YOUTHS ATTACKED Chandigarh: Jasanpreet Singh of Mukstar alleged that Devinder Mand, Simran, alias Simmu; Maninder Mand and Parvinder, alias Mithu, attacked him and his friend Manpreet near Leisure Valley, Sector 10. Both were admitted to the PGI. TNS WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 15, 40, 46 and 52 Mohali: Phase11 Panchkula: Sector 25 TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Apex court verdict shatters BJP’s plans for re-election| AAP-Cong in celebration mode Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 20 Supreme Court’s verdict today brought a major embarrassment to the ruling BJP as it is , the first mayoral poll defeat for the saffron party after ruling the Municipal Corporation for eight consecutive years. It is also the first major win of the INDIA bloc, under which AAP and the Congress joined hands to defeat the BJP in the mayoral polls. In a major blow to the BJP its plan for a repoll , to the post of mayor fell flat after the SC order today. On the eve of the Supreme Court’s hearing, the BJP had got Mayor Manoj Sonkar resigned after three AAP councillors joined the saffron party. It was hoping that even in the worst case scenario, a re-election might be ordered by the court and its mayoral candidate will again win as it enjoyed a majority in the MC House post AAP councillors’ switch. On the contrary, the apex court preferred to check the eight votes, which were marked and declared invalid by presiding officer Anil Masih. All these votes were polled in favour of alliance candidate and AAP councillor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor. SC SAVED DEMOCRACY HC TO DECIDE ON SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR the SC has ❝Today,democracy from saved the ■ As far as the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor are concerned, the Punjab and Haryana High Court is scheduled to hear the Congress’ plea on February 26. ■ “Since the case is separately going on there, the HC will clear the picture. We will argue when the Mayor, who conducts these two polls, is wrongly elected, how can the BJP’s victory on these two posts be valid?” said Congress chief Lucky. ■ The Congress had fought two posts while the Mayor’s post was left for AAP under the alliance. Councillors of the two parties had boycotted the elections to the two posts in protest against the tampering of votes in the Mayor’s election. The court found these valid, leading to Dhalor’s win. As Dhalor was announced the winner, AAP and Congress councillors went into the celebration mode, dancing to the tune of dhols and distributing sweets. Later, AAP and Congress councillors held a joint press conference in Sector 39. Meanwhile, in a statement, former Union minister being murdered. Not only in Chandigarh or at the national level but also at the international level, people are watching what the BJP is doing. ❞ Dr SS Ahluwalia, CITY AAP CO-IN CHARGE A HISTORIC VERDICT the BJP’s tenure ❝Duringpeople were a in the MC, Mayor Kuldeep Kumar flanked by city Congress chief HS lucky (left) and AAP co-in charge SS Ahluwalia after the Supreme Court verdict, in Chandigarh on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY 2 BJP LEADERS BLAMED FOR EMBARRASSMENT PAGE 3 Pawan Kumar Bansal said, “I express concern over the BJP’s tactics in a relatively small-town election and caution that the nation should take note of such manoeuvres, raising apprehensions about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. .” BJP chief Jatinder Pal Malhotra did not answer the phone calls made by this correspondent. c m y b harried lot as their works were not getting done. Even Swachhata ranking of the city is falling. Truth has ultimately prevailed. It is a historic verdict. ❞ HS Lucky, CITY CONGRESS PRESIDENT AAP turncoats will join back party: Mayor CHANDIGARH: Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor (Tita), who has been declared winner in the mayoral polls by the SC, said AAP councillors, who had defected to the BJP were misled , and would return to AAP . He said, “The truth has prevailed after the SC verdict. I am all praise for the SC.” The Dadu Majra councillor said strictest action should be taken against presiding officer Anil Masih. Dhalor has passed senior secondary and runs a tent business. Being a resident of Dadu Majra, he has been fighting for removal of the Dadu Majra dump. The AAP leader said as MAX 23°C | MIN 13°C YESTERDAY MAX 24.6°C | MIN 16.7°C SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:57 AM Saffron party tastes defeat after 8 years MAYORAL POLLS PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.15 PM » WEDNESDAY | 21 FEBRUARY 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Mayor, he would continue to work for the removal of the dump. Dhalor was earlier affiliated with the RSS and the Bajrang Dal. He said to have left the organisations after the BJP considered Rajesh Kalia for MC poll ticket. He joined AAP and won the MC elections in 2021. — TNS No-trust motion: BJP lacks adequate Nos Chandigarh, February 20 The day also remained abuzz with talk of possibility of the BJP bringing no-confidence motion against Dhalor. Chances seem bleak for now, as the BJP does not have adequate numbers. As per Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor General of India, no-confidence motion can be passed with a 2/3rd majority. There should be a minimum of 50 per cent presence of members. There are two possibilities. First, if all 36 members (35 councillors and ex-officio member, i.e. MP) are present in the House, then the BJP needs, at least, 24 votes to win the noconfidence motion. However, it has only 18 total votes (excluding SAD’s one vote). The Congress holds the key here. In case the alliance faces some trouble like in the recent past, the party may abstain or support the no-confidence motion. If the Congress supports it with its seven councillors, there will be 25 votes (excluding one of the SAD) required to pass the motion. Even if it opts to abstain from the House, the BJP then also might have a chance. In this case, 29 votes will be left in the House and BJP will need 20 to win the motion. Other than the SAD’s vote, it may try to make, at least, one AAP councillor stay away from House. — TNS
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