Lucknow: In a scathing critique of the Election Commission’s role during the Milkipur assembly by-election, Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav declared that the poll body is “dead,” accusing it of failing to maintain electoral integrity in Uttar Pradesh. Yadav’s remarks come in response to alleged malpractices and voter intimidation claims during the by-poll held on Wednesday.
“The BJP runs its electoral campaigns this way. The Election Commission has passed away. We’ll have to give them white cloth,” said Akhilesh in a statement to ANI, intensifying the political showdown. His comments came after allegations by the Samajwadi Party that the ruling BJP was influencing the election process, undermining democracy in the process.
Yadav’s accusations centered around claims that police in Ayodhya were checking voter ID cards during the election, which he labeled as an attempt to instill fear in voters and sway the results. He called on the Election Commission to take immediate action, labeling the actions as “a democratic crime.”
“The police are examining voter ID cards in Milkipur, and senior officers are involved. The Election Commission should take immediate notice of the images associated with this news,” Yadav posted on social media. He emphasized that influencing voter behavior through fear tactics is an offense that should be addressed with swift punitive measures.
However, Ayodhya police quickly responded, denying the claims. In a post shared on X, the police clarified that they were only verifying the identity cards of booth agents and not voters. The police statement urged the public to avoid spreading “false statements” and assured that the electoral process was not being compromised.
Booth Agent Identification Controversy
The controversy intensified with claims from Ajit Prasad, the Samajwadi Party’s candidate for Milkipur, who alleged that his agents were being prevented from entering polling booths by local authorities. Prasad also accused “nefarious elements” of attempting to influence the vote, despite overwhelming support for his party in the region.
“I’m receiving complaints that our agents are not being allowed to enter the booths. Despite this, the people of Milkipur are voting for us, but local police are pressuring them to stay away from voting for the Samajwadi Party,” Prasad told ANI.
The Election Commission, however, has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
Voter Turnout and Election Results
The Milkipur by-election, which ended with a voter turnout of 57.13 percent, was closely monitored due to the political significance of the contest. While the Samajwadi Party raised concerns about malpractice, the election proceeded without major disturbances, as per official reports.
The result of this by-election is expected to have implications for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh state elections, as both the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are vying for control of key constituencies in the state.
As the political discourse around the Milkipur election continues, all eyes will remain on the actions of the Election Commission and whether any corrective measures will be taken in response to the mounting allegations of electoral malpractice.
