The Samajwadi Party on Monday posted a video on their official Twitter account in which they claimed that certain voting booths in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh—one of the three seats in the state where byelections are taking place—had been vandalised by BJP members. This occurs just after SP leader Akhilesh Yadav accused Mainpuri polling places of electoral fraud.
In its most recent video, the party displayed smashed tables and chairs that they said were the work of individuals affiliated with the saffron party. Meanwhile, other individuals—possibly SP employees—were observed conversing with the local police, who they said did nothing to address the alleged event.
Taking to Twitter, SP stated: “In Rampur, BJP workers vandalised and did hooliganism at the SP booth. On being asked, the CO ran away. The Election Commission should take cognizance of the matter, action should be taken against the accused BJP leader. Such policemen should be suspended immediately."
During the byelection for the Rampur assembly district in Uttar Pradesh, just 26.32 percent of votes were cast as of Monday at 3 p.m.
Up to 3 p.m., 44.13 percent of Mainpuri Lok Sabha byelection voters exercised their right to vote, whereas only 40.2% of voters cast ballots in the Khatauli assembly byelection. Voting started at 7 am and will go until 6 pm.
According to the Election Commission, there are six candidates running for office in Mainpuri, 14 in Khatauli, and 10 in Rampur Sadar.
Dimple Yadav, wife of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, is competing in Mainpuri against Raghuraj Singh Shakya of the BJP, a former close friend of Shivpal Singh Yadav.
Prior to this year's Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Shakya switched to the BJP.
The BJP has put Akash Saxena, the son of former party lawmaker Shiv Bahadur Saxena, up against Azam Khan's ward Asim Raja in the Rampur Sadar Assembly segment.
Rajkumari Saini, the wife of Vikram Singh Saini, and Madan Bhaiya, a member of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, are engaged in combat in Khatauli.