The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit in Chandigarh has dismissed Anil Masih, the presiding officer involved, from his responsibilies of the party's minority cell.
After a party reshuffle on Sunday, a revamped local team was announced, accompanied by the release of a new list.
This decision follows the recent uproar caused by a video purportedly showing Masih tampering with eight votes during the counting process, leading the Supreme Court to label it as the "murder of democracy."
During a hearing on February 5, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud strongly criticised Masih's conduct, stating, "He is murdering democracy.
Is this the way an officer has to conduct elections? We are appalled by his conduct. Please tell the presiding officer that the Supreme Court is watching him." Consequently, the court ordered Masih to appear before it on February 19.
The controversy arose after the mayoral post was won by the BJP, with support from an ex-officio member of the House, despite the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress having a combined strength of 20 in the House.
Allegations surfaced that Masih, while serving as the presiding officer, defaced ballot papers on the BJP's instructions, a claim vehemently denied by the party.
Anil Masih, who had held the position of general secretary of the minority cell of the Chandigarh BJP since 2021, has now been replaced by Istekhar Ahmed.
While this move is perceived as an attempt by the BJP to distance itself from Masih amidst the controversy, Chandigarh BJP chief Jatinder Pal Malhotra clarified that the party aims to introduce fresh faces. "Masih's term has ended, and the party wants to give a chance to new people," said Malhotra.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Sanjeev Rana provided a different rationale, stating, "The party has decided not to have nominated councillors as office-bearers of any wing; thus, Masih's name did not figure in the latest list."
Masih, who joined the BJP as a member in 2015, rose through the ranks and was appointed as the general secretary of the party's minority morcha in 2021. A year later, in October 2022, he was nominated as a councillor, a post with a five-year tenure.
Follow us
