New Delhi: Amid ongoing polling for byelection to Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, several Samajwadi Party leaders have alleged that the police and administration are hindering the poll process and not letting people cast their votes. “Police is not allowing people to cast votes,” claimed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, reported news agency ANI.
“I don't know on whose orders the administration is working from the day polling started. What briefing has been given to him? Complaints have been coming continuously since morning. Police is not allowing people to cast votes,” said the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister after casting his vote in Saifai.
Similar concern was raised by SP MLA Ram Gopal Yadav who alleged that police and administration were manipulating the poll process.
“EC had directed that deployment for duties be randomised.But when polling parties arrived, around 2000 of the staff were stopped and held back as reserves as they had Yadav surname. they forget that not only Yadavs but everyone votes for SP,” said Yadav.
“In Mainpuri, they weren't allowing agents at booths 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146. We spoke to Returning Officer, I'll find out if it was later allowed. Similarly, BJP goons came to the powerhouse of Mainpuri in an inebriated state and pushed our agent out. Police and administration are no help,” he added.
“They don't even allow casting of votes in Rampur. Beating up people started yesterday. SSP there is the one who was removed from Firozabad on my complaint during polls. This SSP was there the last time too and even now. There is nobody to listen but the public is supreme.”
SP leader Azam Khan also claimed that police were telling people not to step out to vote. “Barbarism being done and people being arrested, beaten up. Police are going to colonies and telling people not to step out to vote,” Khan told the news agency ANI.
“People in one colony locked up their houses and migrated in fear. They are saying it everywhere to not cast votes,” he added.
Mainpuri Lok Sabha byelections are taking place after the demise of sitting MP and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav’s death, the SP has fielded his daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav. Contesting her from BJP is Raghuraj Singh Shakya, a former confidant of Mulayam's brother Shivpal Singh Yadav.
The bypolls in Rampur Sadar and Khatauli were necessitated after SP MLA Azam Khan and BJP MLA Vikram Singh Saini were disqualified following their conviction in separate cases.