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Chandigarh Shifts Mayoral Voting to Show of Hands to Boost Transparency

The change is designed to boost accountability by deterring behind-the-scenes vote manipulation.

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In the 2024 mayoral elections, then presiding officer Anil Masih, a nominated councillor in the MC, was caught on camera invalidating eight votes cast in favour of AAP-Congress alliance candidate Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor, in an apparent attempt to secure victory for the BJP’s Manoj Sonkar. (HT File)
No more secret ballot, Chandigarh Mayor, Deputy Mayor to be elected by hand vote

Overview

  • On June 24, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria approved amending Regulation 6 to replace secret ballots with show-of-hands voting for mayoral and deputy mayoral posts.
  • The Municipal Corporation House passed the amendment under Section 398(2) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976 as extended to Chandigarh by the 1994 UT Act.
  • Under the new system councillors will vote openly in the chamber by raising hands, mirroring other House resolutions to strengthen public oversight.
  • The move follows a 2024 incident in which a presiding officer invalidated opposition ballots and a Supreme Court order naming AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar mayor, as well as alleged cross-voting in 2025.
  • Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky welcomed the reform as a step toward cleaner politics and restoring trust in the Municipal Corporation.