AAP leader Raghav Chadha on Tuesday questioned the Chandigarh mayoral poll process and alleged that it was not only "unconstitutional and illegal" but also an act of "deshdroh" (treason) as he accused the BJP of "orchestrating" it after sensing its defeat in the election.

Accompanied by senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal, the AAP MP said the AAP-Congress alliance was destined to win the Chandigarh mayoral polls as they had 20 votes in the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation House.

"Victory of our alliance was certain, but sensing imminent defeat, the BJP hatched conspiracies. First, the presiding officer, who was to conduct polls on January 18, was made to fall ill. Thereafter an attempt was made to buy councillors of the AAP. When BJP's 'operation lotus' failed, then they did fraud (in the mayoral polls)," he alleged.

The poll results came as a setback for the AAP and the Congress which were contesting the mayoral polls in an alliance. Chadha said elections were held with Anil Masih, who was an office-bearer of the BJP's minority wing, being announced as the presiding officer. "BJP's presiding officer did not allow any election agent of any party to come forward during counting of votes. Whenever counting takes place, election agents of parties are allowed to come," he said.

The AAP leader further alleged that the presiding officer himself used his pen on certain ballot papers and declared them invalid during counting.  "It was for the first time that out of 36 votes (including vote of Chandigarh MP), eight votes were declared invalid," he said while demanding an FIR against the presiding officer.

Congress leader and former Union minister Bansal said that such "jungle raj" was never seen and blamed the BJP for the same. Bansal alleged that the eight ballot papers were rejected in a premeditated manner. The Congress and AAP agents were not given access to the ballot paper. “The presiding officer, who I would say is a shallow person, had been given one clear specification that he has to come out only after declaring the BJP candidate as the winner,” he added.

Bansal further said, “We were watching the live (feed). If you notice, the presiding officer immediately vacated the chair and the BJP’s candidate was standing beside immediately sat on the chair. The BJP members rushed in, took and tore the ballot papers before anyone could even go there and see.”

Replying to a question, Chadha said, "This is not a setback for one coalition or one party. It is a setback for India's democracy and as a democrat, we are aggrieved, we are flabbergasted."
"We are worried as to what will happen in upcoming 2024 polls if the BJP can stoop to such a low level and commit forgery and illegality. The BJP can go to any level to rig the election process and indulge in every possible electoral fraud and electoral malpractices," he said.