In a significant political development in Chandigarh, the Punjab Police detained senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, along with several other party workers and leaders. The detention occurred on Saturday during a high-voltage protest staged outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). The demonstration was directed against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, with protesters raising serious allegations regarding the integrity of the electoral process.
The March and Police Intervention
The protest saw a large gathering of AAP leaders and workers from Punjab who initiated a march towards the CEO's office. The atmosphere was charged as protesters shouted slogans against the Election Commission, demanding transparency and accountability. The situation escalated when the demonstrators attempted to breach the security cordons established by the police to reach the CEO's office. In response to the rising tension and the attempt to bypass security measures, the police intervened and took several key figures into custody. Among those detained were Manish Sisodia, Harpal Singh Cheema, and various other prominent leaders of the Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Demands for Resignation and Allegations of Manipulation
Just moments before being taken into custody, Manish Sisodia addressed the media and the gathered supporters, making a firm demand for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Sisodia expressed his party's full support for the protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). He emphasized that his presence and the party's participation were on behalf of AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Sisodia stated that the demand for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar is gaining momentum not just in Chandigarh but across Punjab.
Allegations of Vote Theft
During his address, the senior AAP leader leveled serious accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that elections are being manipulated. Sisodia alleged that the BJP is winning elections by stealing votes. To support his claim, he cited the Delhi Assembly elections held approximately one and a half years ago. He specifically mentioned the New Delhi assembly constituency, which is represented by Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that 40,000 votes were deliberately removed or stolen from the electoral rolls. This, according to Sisodia, is a clear indication of systemic electoral fraud that needs to be addressed immediately.
Developments in Delhi and Other Detentions
The ripples of the protest were also felt in the national capital, where police took action against individuals attempting to demonstrate. In addition to the detentions in Chandigarh, several activists and leaders associated with the movement were detained in Delhi, while among those identified are Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Saurabh Das, leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party. The coordinated protests across different locations highlight the growing friction between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Election Commission over the conduct of polls and the maintenance of voter lists.