Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of subverting the democratic process and rigging the Milkipur assembly bypoll in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya.
The BJP, however, rejected these allegations, insisting that the by-election was conducted fairly and transparently.
In a statement issued by the SP, Yadav urged the Election Commission to take strict action against what he described as “corrupt practices” in Milkipur, alleging that the bypoll was marred by “systematic voter suppression and fraudulent activities.”
The former chief minister claimed that the BJP, in collusion with local authorities, engaged in widespread electoral malpractices, including fake voting and voter intimidation. He alleged that SP booth agents were harassed at multiple polling stations, while BJP supporters resorted to violence to manipulate the election outcome.
“BJP-backed goons created chaos at several locations and were openly protected by the police and administration,” Yadav stated, further alleging that authorities allowed them to violate the election code of conduct with impunity.
He also claimed that fake voting was rampant at several booths, including booth number 158, where the “SDM himself reportedly raised concerns with the Election Commission regarding booth capturing.” Additionally, Yadav alleged that “BJP-backed goons” were brought in from outside Delhi to cast fraudulent votes, citing an instance where an individual admitted to voting six times.
In the Raipatti Amaniganj area, Yadav pointed to another case where a person reportedly confessed to electoral fraud. “This proves that officials and the BJP were complicit in election rigging,” he said.
The SP leader further accused the police of creating an atmosphere of fear that discouraged many voters from casting their ballots. He also highlighted reports of malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs), particularly at the Kutia Amaniganj booth, where disruptions lasted over two hours, preventing people from voting.
“Despite these irregularities, voters were not given a chance to exercise their rights,” Yadav asserted. He also alleged that Muslim women faced humiliation, with some being forced to remove their burqas for identification purposes.
The SP accused election officials and police personnel of influencing the voting process and removing party agents from several booths. “The BJP has hijacked the election. What should have been a democratic exercise has been reduced to a mere formality,” Yadav claimed, accusing government officials of openly manipulating votes.
In response, the BJP dismissed the accusations as baseless and a reflection of the SP’s frustration over its electoral defeat.
BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi accused Yadav of indulging in “propaganda politics,” claiming that the SP was spreading falsehoods to cover up its impending loss in Milkipur.
“Akhilesh Yadav has become an expert in propaganda politics, attempting to justify his party’s defeat with misleading audio, videos, and images,” Tripathi alleged.
He also refuted claims of electoral malpractice, stating that Yadav would likely blame EVMs for the loss, as has been the case in previous elections. Dismissing all allegations of rigging and misconduct, Tripathi maintained that the Milkipur by-election was conducted in a free and fair manner.
The Milkipur bypoll has turned into a prestige battle between the SP and BJP, given that the seat falls within the politically crucial Ayodhya district.
The by-election was necessitated after Awadhesh Prasad vacated the seat upon winning the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Faizabad.
While the SP aims to retain its hold on Milkipur, the BJP sees this election as an opportunity to settle scores after its defeat in Faizabad. Notably, in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Milkipur was the only seat in Ayodhya district that the BJP failed to win.
