Bahujan Samaj Party chief and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati ,on Sunday urged the Election Commission of India to take strict steps against those indulging in narrow politics of selfishness by giving religious colour to the elections.
Addressing media persons here on Sunday, a day after the announcement of assembly election schedule for five states including Uttar Pradesh, the BSP chief said that in view of the elections in these states, it was very important that the Election Commission takes concrete steps to strictly implement the Model Code of Conduct so that the confidence of the general public could be instilled in the conduct of elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
The BSP chief said that in the last few years, the tendency of doing all kinds of rigging during elections and doing unfair things to take electoral advantage for power, including use of religion, had increased and it was a matter of concern.
Mayawati said in the last few elections, even in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the Model Code of Conduct was violated openly in rallies and road shows. “Apart from this, the way the narrow politics of selfishness is being practised by giving religious colour to elections for the last few years, demands take strict action from the Election Commission,” she added.
Mayawati said due to the partisan attitude of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state, there was a jungle raj and people of all castes and classes felt its brunt.
She said the BJP would be voted out of power in this election, provided there was no misuse of government machinery and tampering with the electronic voting machines.
Without naming the Samajwadi Party, Mayawati said there was a party in the state which was dreaming of winning 400 seats out of 403 in alliance with people expelled from BSP and other parties but its dream would be shattered on March 10 when the poll results would be announced.
“This will be the situation of BJP and other parties and only BSP can form a popular government,” she claimed. She assured that BSP would strictly follow the Model Code of Conduct.
The former chief minister also requested the Election Commission to ensure that no one was allowed to create any kind of obstruction in the elections and to ensure free and fair polls and tight security arrangements at vulnerable polling stations so that the voters, especially the Dalits and others or people from weaker sections could cast their votes without any fear.
Mayawati said that she also held a meeting with prominent BSP leaders on Sunday at the party office in Lucknow for the selection of candidates. She claimed her party would perform better in Uttarakhand and form an absolute majority government in Punjab with its alliance partner the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Mayawati said that even if the agencies conducting pre-poll surveys kept showing BSP out of the race, the people would give it the majority.