Who Is Anil Masih? Chandigarh Poll Officer Wiki, Biography, Wife, Family, Age, and More
Anil Masih is a name that has been making headlines in the Indian media for the past few days. He is the presiding officer who conducted the Chandigarh mayoral elections on January 30, 2024 and was accused of tampering with some ballot papers, resulting in eight votes being declared invalid.
The Supreme Court expressed shock and dismay at his conduct and ordered him to appear before the court on February 19 to explain his actions. But who is Anil Masih and what is his background? Here are some facts about him that you may not know.
Age, Birthday & Education
Anil Masih is currently 53 years old as of 2024. His exact date of birth is not known. Anil Masih completed his education at a government school in Sector 11 and later graduated from DAV College in the city.
Political Career
Anil Masih is a nominated municipal councilor and an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chandigarh. He joined the party in 2015 and has been associated with its minority wing since then. He has been seen attending various BJP meetings and events, including the recent celebration when former AAP councilor Lakhwinder Singh joined the party on January 10.
He was nominated as a councilor in the Chandigarh MC House in October 2022 by the BJP and became one of the nine nominated councilors in the general house of the Chandigarh MC. He was also appointed as the general secretary of the minority morcha in 2021. He was reportedly in line for the BJP ticket for Chandigarh civic polls in December 2021 from Ward number 13 but did not get it.
Anil Masih Wiki/Bio
| Name | Anil Masih |
| Occupation | Politician and municipal councillor |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Position | General secretary of BJP’s minority morcha |
| Controversy | Accused of vote tampering in Chandigarh mayoral elections |
| Age | 53 years (as of 2024) |
| Education | Graduated from DAV College, Chandigarh |
| Wife | Manager at a girls’ hostel at Punjab Engineering College |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | Indian |
| anilmasih | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Role in the Chandigarh Mayoral Polls
Anil Masih was the presiding officer who oversaw the Chandigarh mayoral polls on January 30, 2024, in which BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar defeated AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar by 16 votes to 12.
However, the election was marred by controversy as eight votes were declared invalid by Masih, who allegedly tampered with some ballot papers by ticking them with a pen. Opposition parties, including AAP and Congress, accused Masih of favoring the BJP and demanded a re-poll.
They also alleged that Masih did not allow the representatives of the opposition bloc to witness the counting and verification of the ballot papers, which was a departure from past practice. A video of Masih ticking the ballot papers while looking at the CCTV camera also surfaced on social media, raising doubts about the fairness of the electoral process.
Controversies and Criticism
This is not the first time that Anil Masih has been involved in a controversy. In 2018, he was reportedly barred from the Church of North India (CNI) for making offensive remarks at a community meeting. He was reinstated by the Bishop of CNI two years later. He has also faced criticism from some sections of the minority community for joining the BJP, which is seen as a Hindu nationalist party. Some of his critics have questioned his loyalty to the Christian faith and accused him of being a “turncoat”.
Anil Masih’s role in the Chandigarh mayoral polls has also drawn flak from various quarters, including the Supreme Court, which termed his action as a “murder” and “mockery” of democracy. The court said that it was obvious that he defaced the ballot papers and that he should be prosecuted.
The court also said that it would order fresh elections if not satisfied with the purity of the poll process. The court also asked Masih to appear before it on February 19 to explain his behavior and ordered the preservation of the ballots and the video of the poll proceedings.
Ballot Paper Controversy Explained
Anil Masih was the presiding officer for the Chandigarh mayoral elections held on January 30, 2024. He was accused of tampering with some ballot papers during the counting process, which led to eight votes being declared invalid. The BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar defeated the AAP-Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh by a margin of four votes.
The AAP-Congress alliance challenged the election results in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that Masih had intentionally invalidated their votes. The Supreme Court, while hearing the matter, expressed shock at the irregularities and said that Masih’s action amounted to the “murder” and “mockery” of democracy.
The court also ordered the preservation of ballots and the video of the poll proceedings and sought Masih’s appearance during the next hearing on February 19, 2024. Masih, however, defended himself by saying that he had changed 11 ballot papers based on objections raised by members and that he had followed the bylaws before allowing the presence of representatives from the opposition bloc. He also claimed that the opposition councilors had torn some ballot papers during the commotion.
Nationality, Caste, and Religion
Anil Masih is an Indian citizen by birth. He belongs to the Christian minority community and is a member of the Church of North India (CNI). He was barred from the CNI in 2018 for allegedly using abusive language and speaking against the faith but was reinstated in 2020 by the Bishop of the CNI. His caste is not known.
Net worth and Income Sources
There is no official or reliable source of information about Anil Masih’s net worth and income sources. However, according to some media reports, he has been without an active job for many years and is completely dedicated to politics.
He was nominated as a councilor in the Chandigarh MC House in October 2022, which may entitle him to some salary and allowances. He may also receive some funds from the BJP or its minority wing for his political activities.
Physical Stats
| Height (approx.) | In Feet Inches: 5′ 8″. In Meters: 1.72 m. |
| Weight (approx.) | In Kilograms: 80 kg. In Pounds: 176.37 lbs. |
| Hair Color | Black. |
| Eye Color | Black. |
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
Anil Masih was born and brought up in Chandigarh. He studied at a government school in Sector 11 and later graduated from DAV College in the city. He is married and has two children.
His wife works as a manager at one of the girls’ hostels at Punjab Engineering College in Sector 12. The family lives at the hostel barracks on campus. Anil Masih used to work at a private company in the past but has been without an active job for many years. He is said to be completely dedicated to politics.
Future Prospects
Anil Masih’s prospects in politics and public life seem uncertain at the moment, as he faces legal and moral scrutiny for his role in the Chandigarh mayoral polls. He may face criminal charges and disciplinary action for his alleged misconduct. He may also lose the trust and support of his party and the people.
His reputation and credibility as a leader and a representative of the minority community may also be tarnished. However, he may also try to defend himself justify his actions, and seek the backing of his party and his supporters. He may also hope for a favorable outcome from the court and the election commission, which may clear his name and restore his position.
Anil Masih is a BJP leader and a nominated municipal councilor in Chandigarh, who has been accused of tampering with votes in the Chandigarh mayoral polls. He has been summoned by the Supreme Court to explain his actions, which have been condemned as a violation of democracy.
He has also faced criticism from the opposition parties and the public for his alleged bias and irregularities. He has a political background and a controversial past, and his prospects are uncertain. He is a prominent figure in the minority wing of the BJP and a resident of Chandigarh. He is married and has two children. He is a graduate of DAV College and a former employee of a private company. He is currently without an active job and devoted to politics. He is 42 years old.
