Recently, the electoral scenario concerning the Chandigarh Lok Sabha polls has been altered following the exit of Shakeel Mohammad who was running as an independent candidate leaving 19 competitors seeking for only one slot. At the same time that he declared his support for Congress candidate Manish Tewari, Shakeel Mohammad also announced that he would no longer contest in this year’s general elections.
Initially, 27 candidates had filed their nominations, but scrutiny led to the rejection of seven candidatures by the Chandigarh election department. With Mohammad’s withdrawal, the number of valid candidates has now decreased to 19, including representatives from national parties, independents, and unrecognised parties.
The race is primarily between Congress’ Tiwari and BJP’s Sanjay Tandon, AAP and India Bloc are supporting Tiwari. Mohammad’s backing gives Congress member more support.
Mohammad’s withdrawal followed a show-cause notice served to him for allegedly seeking votes in the name of religion, a violation of electoral guidelines. He visited a place of worship and appealed for votes, prompting the election department to take action. In response, Mohammad withdrew his nomination and threw his support behind Tewari, citing concerns over the political atmosphere created by the BJP over the past decade.
Also Read: Chandigarh Election Officer Issues Notices To Congress’ Tewari
Notably, only two women candidates, Ritu Singh from BSP and independent candidate Rajinder Kaur, are in the running this time, reflecting a gender disparity in electoral participation.
The election department’s allocation of election symbols presents a blend of tradition and technology, with symbols ranging from sugarcane and kettle to CCTV cameras and battery torches. This fusion encapsulates the evolving nature of electoral symbolism, combining traditional elements with modern motifs.
While election tensions grow in Chandigarh, visitors await June 1. Over 6.5 lakhs voters will go to polls on that day to choose those who are fit to represent them at the national level.
