Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, on Wednesday, accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of misusing the administrative machinery to win the Uttar Pradesh assembly bypolls “through manipulation”.
Akhilesh Yadav said his party had complained to the Election Commission about “irregularities” in various constituencies.
Voting was held for nine assembly seats in the state on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav said, “We have lodged complaints about irregularities in various constituencies, including Karhal, Sisamau, Meerapur, Kundarki, Phulpur and Majhawan. Despite these complaints, it seems that the Election Commission is turning a blind eye to them. It appears that the Election Commission’s senses are no longer functioning.”
“The BJP wants to win these bypolls not through votes but through manipulation,” the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh alleged.
Fearing defeat, the ruling party is pressuring the administration to act unfairly, he charged, while urging voters to go to polling booths and stay there until they cast their vote. “This is a right granted to us and everyone must exercise it,” he added.
Referring to the Election Commission’s directives issued in response to the SP’s earlier complaints, Yadav said, “The EC had clearly instructed that police cannot stop anyone, conduct searches, or check ID cards. Despite this, the BJP is resorting to dishonesty because they know they are losing public support.”
Yadav further accused the BJP of preventing many people who want to vote for opposition parties from casting their ballots to make up for its supporters’ disinterest.
“Many of their own people are opposing them. Their voters are slipping away and even voting against them. The BJP is using police to block our supporters from voting because their voters are not turning up,” the SP chief claimed.
He said the BJP’s desperation indicates a crumbling hold on power. “Their throne is shaking and they are panicking because both the public and their internal factions are against them,” he said.
