BJP national spokesperson Amit Malviya on Friday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of 'murdering democracy' over the Abohar mayoral election, alleging widespread rigging. Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) being the single largest party with 28 councillors in the 50-member municipal corporation, the AAP candidate was declared Mayor after a secret ballot that Malviya said is now under a cloud.
Allegations of Irregularities in Election Process
Malviya said that when democratic norms are compromised, the usual chorus of self-appointed guardians of democracy is expected to demand answers. 'But when the party facing serious questions is AAP, the silence of this pro-democracy brigade is deafening,' he said. He questioned the unexplained postponement of the election from July 7 to July 10, 2026, the absence of video recording of ballot counting, and claims that the Returning Officer simply announced the result without transparent verification before attempting to leave.
'If even a fraction of these allegations had surfaced in a BJP-ruled state, there would have been wall-to-wall outrage, press conferences, editorials, and lectures on the murder of democracy. So where are the usual suspects now?' Malviya asked, calling for uniform standards for democratic transparency regardless of the ruling party.
BJP Councillors Protest Alleged Fraud
Elections for Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayor were held on July 10. The AAP candidate secured the Mayor's post with 27 votes in a secret ballot, despite the BJP having 28 out of 50 councillors. AAP has 20 councillors, with one from the Indian National Congress and one Independent. Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar has alleged irregularities in the election process, questioning its transparency and claiming AAP secured the post through fraudulent means, according to Malviya.
After the results, all 28 BJP councillors staged a protest outside the Municipal Corporation office against the Commissioner and AAP, demanding a fair and transparent election. Malviya alleged that the local Deputy Commissioner merely took attendance of present councillors and then declared the AAP candidate the winner. No cameras or recording of the secret ballot counting was undertaken. The DC then tried leaving without giving answers but was stopped by BJP councillors who declared they would not leave until they got a fair election.
Demand for Accountability
Malviya said democracy cannot have different standards for different political parties. 'If transparency matters, it must matter irrespective of who is in power. The people of Punjab deserve answers, not selective outrage,' he said. The BJP has called for a thorough investigation into the electoral process in Abohar.
