GG News Bureau
Lucknow, 20th Nov. As bypolls continue in Uttar Pradesh, both the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have raised concerns over alleged voter suppression and electoral irregularities, calling for immediate intervention by the Election Commission (EC).
The SP accused police personnel of deterring people from voting, alleging that law enforcement was checking voter IDs and harassing voters. SP president Akhilesh Yadav urged the Supreme Court and the EC to take immediate cognisance of the matter, citing video evidence of alleged voter suppression. The party requested that the EC issue instructions prohibiting police officers from checking voter identification documents, limiting this duty to polling officers only.
Yadav also shared a video from party candidate Sumbul Rana, who claimed that people in Meerapur, Muzaffarnagar district, were being harassed by police officers who demanded multiple forms of identification and denied them the right to vote. Rana stated that such incidents were reported in areas like Nayagaon, Nagla Buzuk, and Sambalheda.
“Police have no right to check Aadhaar or voter ID cards. These officers should be suspended immediately,” Yadav said in a post on X. He added that despite raising complaints, authorities were not addressing the concerns of voters.
In response, BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla dismissed the SP’s accusations, suggesting that the party was nervous about losing the bypolls. Shukla claimed that SP leaders had brought in “external disruptive elements” and raised concerns over the authenticity of burqa-clad women voters, alleging that their faces did not match the photographs on their ID cards.
“The SP has lost trust in voters. We urge the EC to ensure that voting is allowed only when identity cards match the voter’s appearance,” Shukla stated.
The SP also highlighted alleged violations of the poll code in locations such as Kundarki in Moradabad, where their agents were reportedly denied access to polling stations. However, Moradabad DM Anuj Singh responded to these claims, stating that after verifying the situation, he found that voting was proceeding smoothly with adequate security and no reported issues.
Further, SP candidate Naseem Solanki from Kanpur also alleged biased behaviour from the administration, with party voters complaining of foul play.
The bypolls are taking place in several constituencies, including Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki. Voting began at 7 am and will continue until 5 pm, with results to be counted on November 23.
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