Allegations of booth capturing, assault and ballot looting in UP-Bihar MLC elections; Akhilesh-Tejashwi raised questions

New Delhi: Complaints of ruckus, fighting and alleged booth capturing have been reported at many places during the MLC elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on Friday. BJP and Samajwadi Party leaders accused each other over separate incidents in Fatehpur, Muzaffarnagar, Gorakhpur, Agra, Varanasi and Kaushambi in Uttar Pradesh. Clashes took place in Bihar also between BJP, Jansuraj and JDU supporters. Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav raised questions on the election process.

Voting through ballot paper, then why the ruckus at the booth?

Voting in MLC elections is done through ballot paper. In this, like in general elections, not all the voters cast their vote, but only the designated voters of the respective constituency vote. This time complaints of booth capturing, fake voting and alleged misuse of ballot papers came from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Clashes also took place between political workers at many places during voting. These incidents intensified the debate over conducting elections through ballot papers and the security of polling stations.

Fake voting by taking bundle of ballot paper in Fatehpur!

There was a ruckus at a polling booth located in Vijaypur block of Khaga assembly constituency in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh. A voter alleged that when he reached to cast his vote, some people came inside the booth and closed the gate. According to the allegation, they threatened the officers posted on election duty and switched off the CCTV cameras. After this, fake voting was allegedly done by taking a big bundle of ballot paper. After the voter came out and complained, BJP and Samajwadi Party workers clashed. On receiving information about fighting and pushing, police, SP and DM reached the spot.

Police denied allegations of booth capturing

After the uproar in Fatehpur, a complaint about booth capturing was placed before the authorities. However, the Superintendent of Police denied the incident of booth capturing. According to him, there was no booth capturing there, rather there was a mutual dispute between BJP and Samajwadi Party workers, which was resolved. In this way, on one hand the voters were accused of fake voting and switching off the cameras, while the police denied the allegations of booth looting.

BJP-SP workers clash over cards in Muzaffarnagar

There was a fight between BJP and SP workers at DAV Degree College in Muzaffarnagar Graduate Seat. UP government minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal alleged that some people, who were not authorized, entered the booth posing as polling agents with cards bearing the name of the SP candidate. He said that SP workers were trying to influence the voting and during this time they were caught and their cards were snatched away. On the other hand, SP District President Jiya Chaudhary alleged that Agarwal himself had entered the booth despite not being a polling agent. He also accused them of campaigning inside the booth and threatening the voters.

SP candidate in Gorakhpur asked to move away from the booth

There was a heated debate between BJP and Samajwadi Party workers on the Gorakhpur-Faizabad teachers seat and a fight broke out. Samajwadi Party candidate Sanjay Tripathi had reached DAV PG College to cast his vote. After voting, he started talking to the media near the booth. Meanwhile, BJP workers asked him to move away from the booth, after which the dispute escalated. Workers of both the parties came face to face.

SP candidate in Agra reached Divisional Commissioner’s office crying

Samajwadi Party candidate from Agra teachers seat, Akash Aggarwal also made allegations of booth capturing. He reached the Divisional Commissioner’s office with his complaint and started crying outside. Akash Aggarwal claimed that booths have been looted at many places in his seat and he has proof of this. He alleged that the police and the Election Commission have failed to stop booth capturing. He raised the question that when such incidents are happening during the election process, where should they go for justice.

Controversy over violation of code of conduct in Varanasi

In Varanasi, Samajwadi Party candidate Ashutosh Sinha was accused of violating the election code of conduct. BJP workers raised questions on his presence near the polling booth and accused him of breaking the rules. After this, an argument started between BJP and SP workers, which soon turned into an uproar. There was a dispute between the two parties regarding this incident.

Leaders clash over entry of private vehicles in Kaushambi

There was uproar during voting in Nevada block of Kaushambi also. BJP District President Dharamraj Maurya alleged that Samajwadi Party workers were trying to capture booths and the police was supporting them. The controversy escalated when information about two vehicles being allowed inside the polling station came to light. Dharamraj Maurya said that private vehicles should not be allowed inside the booth. He reached the spot and clashed with the police officers. He accused the SP leaders of hooliganism and appointing a person with criminal background as a polling agent. He said that he will complain about the police officers to the senior officers.

SP candidate accused of fake voting

Samajwadi Party candidate from Kaushambi, Man Singh Yadav also reached the spot amid the controversy. He accused BJP of intimidating voters and trying to impose fake voting at different polling stations. According to him, SP workers caught such attempts, after which BJP leaders got angry. On the other hand, BJP District President Dharamraj Maurya had accused SP workers of trying to capture booth.

Akhilesh Yadav raised questions on Election Commission

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav targeted the Election Commission over alleged rigging during the elections. According to available information, more than 30 complaints were sent to the Commission by SP. Akhilesh shared several videos on X and accused BJP of booth capturing. Questioning the role of the Election Commission, he said,

‘At the time of elections, the Election Commission has taken sleeping pills and gone to sleep. Voters are not being allowed to cast their votes.

Amidst his allegations, political controversy over the incidents at polling stations intensified.

‘Akhilesh, first decide whether EVM is bad or ballot paper’

Uttar Pradesh government minister Omprakash Rajbhar hit back at Akhilesh Yadav’s allegations. He said that Akhilesh should first decide whether according to him the EVM or the ballot paper is bad. Rajbhar alleged that after losing the election, Akhilesh comes up with a new excuse for defeat every time. He said that there is no need to pay attention to his words. At the same time, BJP minister Dinesh Pratap Singh also termed Akhilesh’s allegations as false. He said that if booth capturing had actually taken place, voters would also have complained. According to him, only Akhilesh is alleging vote theft.

Clash between BJP, Jansuraj and JDU supporters in Bihar too

In Bihar too, there was uproar at many places during the MLC elections. An incident of fighting between Jansuraj and BJP leaders came to light at Kosi Graduate Seat. There was a dispute in Lakhisarai between BJP District President Deepak Singh and Jansuraj leader Suraj Kumar, which reached a fight. At the same time, before the start of voting in Mokama, JDU and Jansuraj supporters came face to face. After the clash between the two parties, police reached the spot and detained three people. To maintain law and order in Mokama, the police also detained Anant Singh’s supporter Chhotu Singh. There was an uproar there too after this action. These incidents that took place during voting in Bihar made the election atmosphere tense.

‘Use of government machinery to win elections’

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused him of trying to influence elections in Bihar. He said that the government is intimidating their leaders. According to Tejashwi, police was sent to the house of RJD candidate Dr. Sanjeev at night. He also shared the video of this incident on social media. Tejashwi alleged that the government used all its might to win the elections and misused the government machinery. However, he claimed that this would not change the results of the election.

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