Lucknow, Nov 21 (Representative) Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to win Wednesday’s Uttar Pradesh by-elections through manipulation rather than by securing legitimate votes and alleged that the administration tried to prevent some sections of the electorate from voting. Posting a series of videos on his X handle, Yadav clamed that the police tried to obstruct a section of SP supporters from going to the polling booths. One of the videos showed some women in veil complaining about being not allowed to go to the polling booths. Yadav demanded the Election Commission take prompt action to enable people to vote freely. Addressing a press conference at the party office, Yadav said the BJP was pressursing the administration, fearing defeat in the by-polls. He alleged the Samajwadi Party supporters voters were being prevented from casting their votes. “The BJP wants to win the by-election through manipulation and not by securing votes,”. “The Samajwadi Party has complained of police and the administration committing excesses in Kundarki, Sisamau, Katehri, Karhal, Majhwan, Phulpur and other seats since the beginning of polling, but it seems that the senses of the Election Commission are not working. The commission is neither visible nor heard,” he said. He alleged the BJP was rigging the polls througg the officials and appealed to the voters to remain at all the booths. “Only after casting your vote, go back from the polling station. If someone stops you once, you should go a second time, a third time, but cast your vote.”It is the constitutional right of the people to vote. So definitely vote.
The Election Commission has also said that the police cannot check the ID of a voter,” said Yadav. Yadav said the BJP was resorting to cheating in the by-election as it was aware that it stood to be defeated by the people. “The Chief Minister is shaken by the by-election; his throne is shaking. The BJP wants to make up for the lack of votes due to its internal fight by stopping the opposition voters. BJP voters are unhappy and upset; they are not coming out; those who are coming out are voting against BJP,” he added. The SP president said that Samajwadi Party people are collecting videos of those who stop them from casting votes and manipulate voting. Information about the names and designations of the police and administrative officials who are involved in the disturbances was being collated.” The culprits will not be spared. The result of the election will come in favor of the Samajwadi Party, but we will take the case against those who obstruct the voting to court. The court will take action against these culprits. The court will not spare anyone. The jobs, PF, and pensions of the convicts will also be scrapped,” he aid. “I have talked to the Chief Election Commissioner about the rigging that is going on. He has assured that action will be taken against the officials who are found guilty of rigging the election process.” If the officials of Meerapur assembly constituency do not give complete information about how they were preventing voters from voting, then action will also be taken against them,” he said.