Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav questioned the rationale of the restrictions imposed by the Election Commission of India on rallies in poll-bound states till January 15.
“The Election Commission seems to be making arrangements to suit the political interest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as the government seems to be panicky over the huge turnout of common people in the meetings addressed by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav during Vijay Rath Yatra,” the SP leader posted on Twitter on Monday.
“Flags, banners, posters, hoardings cannot be put up. Can’t even hold meetings, street meetings, road shows, rallies. If the media cannot show the opposition, then all arrangements are being made to suit the ruling party. The voter recognises the ‘Cycle’ and will press the button of the cycle itself,” Ram Gopal tweeted and also shared a video of a rally of Akhilesh Yadav.
Following the surge in case load in the third wave of COVID-19, the Election Commission of India, while announcing the election dates on Saturday, emphasised on campaigning through digital means. The Election Commission said that no political party or candidate would organise any kind of rally or public meeting, road show, pad yatra or cycle or bike rally or street meetings till January 15.