Breaking News: Show of Hands to Rule Chandigarh's Mayoral Elections
"Vote by show of hands to select Chandigarh's mayor in 2026"
Heads Up! 📣 Here's the short lowdown: Departing from tradition, Chandigarh's mayoral elections in 2026 will witness a shift from secret ballots to a show of hands. The change, initiated due to transparency concerns following the 2024 vote-rigging scandal, aims to stamp out fraud and promote accountability.
Chandigarh bids adieu to secret ballots in its mayoral elections, with upcoming polls to be held using a show of hands instead. The decision comes in response to the 2024 vote-rigging scandal that shook the hearts of citizens and brought transparency concerns to the forefront.
The transition from secret ballots to a show of hands was first proposed in October 2024 by the then Mayor, Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor, following an uproar over the brazen vote-tampering incident that tainted democracy. The proposal, rooted in the desire for openness and accountability, is now set to become a reality.
The Root of the Issue
The 2024 mayoral elections were marred by vote rigging, with then presiding officer Anil Masih, a nominated municipal councillor, caught on camera invalidating eight votes cast in favor of AAP-Congress alliance candidate Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor in an apparent attempt to ensure victory for BJP’s Manoj Sonkar. The Supreme Court, outraged by this blatant attack on democracy, overturned the results and declared Dhalor the winner, paving the way for Chandigarh's first non-BJP, non-Congress mayor.
Swapping Secrets for Transparency
Black marks on democracy have pushed Chandigarh to implement a new method of voting. The shift to a show of hands aims to eliminate recurring issues of cross-voting and vote tampering. Starting from January 2026, councillors will vote by lifting their hands instead of casting secret ballots.
After completing the necessary process by June, a public notice will be issued to invite objections and suggestions from city residents. These inputs will be taken into account when finalizing the notification.
The Long Road to Reform
The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has been using secret ballots since its establishment back in 1996. Since then, issues like cross-voting and party switching have been recurring problems, largely due to the lack of an anti-defection law. With the new system, councillors will be forced to publicly vote, making it challenging to manipulate the process as seen in the past. This shift is expected to bring a new era of accountability to the city's political landscape, strengthening the trust between citizens and their elected representatives.
- The upcoming mayoral elections in Chandigarh will see a change from secret ballots to a show of hands, a move initiated due to concerns over transparency following the 2024 vote-rigging scandal.
- In October 2024, former Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor proposed the shift from secret ballots to a show of hands, a decision aimed at promoting openness and accountability.
- The 2024 mayoral elections were tainted by vote-tampering, with Anil Masih, a highlighted nominee, caught on camera invalidating votes for AAP-Congress alliance candidate Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor.
- Chandigarh's switch from secret ballots to a show of hands aims to eradicate repeat issues of cross-voting and vote tampering, as councillors will vote publicly instead of casting confidential ballots.
- The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh plans to finalize the notification for the new voting system after considering objections and suggestions from city residents, marking a significant step towards political reform and increased accountability.
