India
UP bypolls: Akhilesh Yadav says UP cop with gun prevented locals from voting, shares video | India News – Times of India
The SP chief shared a video from Kakrouli area in Meerapur assembly seat in which a police official dressed in riot gear showed a pistol to some women. Akhilesh Yadav tagged the Election Commission in a post on
He also shared another video in which some burqa-clad women were told they were not allowed to go to the polling station by the police.
“There should be immediate suspension action against the SHO, who used indecent behavior and language against women to prevent them from casting their votes in Ibrahimpur,” he wrote on X.
As nine seats voted in the bypolls in the state today, Akhilesh Yadav targeted the ruling BJP and accused it of misusing the administrative machinery to secure a victory in the bypolls “through manipulation”.
In a counter-attack, the BJP also accused SP workers of hooliganism and fake voting with women and men wearing burqas.
Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav, addressing a press conference in Lucknow, accused the BJP of making improper use of administrative resources to win the bypolls.
Yadav stated that his party had filed complaints with the Election Commission over electoral irregularities in several constituencies including Karhal, Sisamau, Meerapur, Kundarki, Phulpur and Majhawan, but alleged that the EC failed to address these concerns.
“The BJP wants to win this by-election not through votes but through manipulation,” the former prime minister stated, adding that the ruling party was “pressuring the government to act unfairly” and prevent opposition supporters from voting.
Meanwhile, the European Commission suspended police personnel for violating guidelines after Yadav presented video evidence of voter intimidation. He suggested that the BJP was blocking opposition voters to compensate for their dwindling support base.
BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary also accused Samajwadi Party workers of disruptive behavior during the elections, alleging that they had roped in outsiders and engaged in fraudulent voting practices.
“Akhilesh Yadav’s goons, who took up the slogan ‘PDA’ (pichhde, Dalit and alpsankhyak), are trying to spread terror,” Chaudhary said at a press conference.
Chaudhary criticized the SP’s opposition to voter identity verification and alleged their involvement in electoral malpractices. He referred to incidents in Mainpuri and accused the SP of undermining electoral integrity.
Deputy Prime Minister Brajesh Pathak separately characterized the SP as an organization of troublemakers. He alleged electoral misconduct, including men wearing burqas to vote fraudulently.
