Uttar Pradesh by-elections: "Fearing defeat, BJP is pressuring administration to indulge in foul play": Akhilesh Yadav

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 20 : Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to win the upcoming by-elections through manipulation rather than securing legitimate votes. Yadav claims that the party, fearing defeat, is pressuring the administration to engage in foul play.
Addressing a press conference Samajwadi Party chief said, "Ever since the voting started, complaints have been coming in...regarding different Assembly constituencies...We have lodged multiple complaints. It seems that the senses of Election Commission have dulled. It can neither see nor hear despite so many complaints. BJP wants to win these by-elections not by vote but by 'khot'. Fearing a defeat, BJP is pressuring the administration to indulge in foul play."
The Samajwadi Party has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, accusing plainclothes police in unmarked vehicles of intimidating voters during the Majhawan assembly by-election. They claim that SP supporters waiting in line at polling booths were forcibly taken away in these vehicles.
Additionally, Samajwadi Party on its official handle on X has alleged that the police are affecting voting at nine seats in Uttar Pradesh where by-polls are underway.
"At booth number 357,422 in Kundarki assembly constituency of Moradabad, police are harassing voters and affecting voting. Election Commission should take cognizance, fair voting should be ensured," the party alleged on X.
Amid allegations by various political parties of police affecting voting in Uttar Pradesh by-polls,the election commission has suspended police personnel in Uttar Pradesh for violating guidelines during the ongoing bye-elections.
Moradabad SSP Satpal Antil stated that the police have cognizance of the complaints of voting irregularities and have deployed Gazetted officers to investigate the complaints. He also mentioned that the department has removed one sub-inspector and two constables from their duties to ensure the election is conducted fairly.
"Gazetted officers are being sent to the spot from where allegations have been made. For each allegation, an investigation is being done. We recently went to a nearby village and similar things came up there as well. In that village, we have removed 1 sub-inspector and 2 constables from duty and it is being ensured that the election process is completely fair and a maximum number of people can participate in a free and fair manner," he said.
Notably, bye-elections are being conducted on nine assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh, namely - Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karhal, Sishamau, Phulpur, Katehari, and Majhawan. The results for all the seats will be announced on November 23.
Meanwhile, a voter turnout of 20.5 per cent has been recorded till 11 am in the bye-elections of Uttar Pradesh, said the Chief Election Officer of Uttar Pradesh, Navdeep Rinva.