SP Alleges Voter Deletions, Intimidation and Polling Irregularities in UP Legislative Council Elections

The elections are being held for five Graduate and six Teacher constituencies. The SP alleged that eligible voters were being prevented from exercising their franchise at some locations and raised concerns over the implementation of polling procedures. The allegations had not been independently verified, and responses from the officials concerned were not available.

A total of 14,81,310 voters are eligible to participate in the biennial elections. Authorities have established 2,697 polling stations across the state, where 152 candidates are contesting. Voting is scheduled to continue until 4 p.m.

SP flags alleged voter deletions and procedural lapses

In a post on X, the Akhilesh Yadav-led party claimed that around 50 of approximately 150 voters at Booth No. 186 in Lucknow's Uttar Assembly constituency discovered that their names had been marked as deleted from the electoral rolls, despite having registered earlier.

The party urged the Election Commission to investigate the complaint and ensure that eligible voters were able to cast their ballots.

The SP also alleged that voters at Booth No. 260 in Jhansi's Sadar Assembly constituency were not marked with indelible ink after voting. It said the alleged lapse could create the possibility of individuals voting more than once.

In Jalaun district's Madhogarh Assembly constituency, the party claimed that some government employees at Booth No. 230 in Madhogarh Block were pressuring Muslim voters to sign documents and vote against their wishes.

The party also accused BJP leaders of creating disturbances in Auraiya's Bidhuna Assembly constituency.

Allegations of campaigning near polling stations

The SP raised concerns over polling booths 234, 235, 236 and 237 at Kailashwati Inter College in Arthala, Sahibabad, in Ghaziabad. It alleged that BJP agents were present within the prohibited 200-metre zone around the polling stations, carrying party flags and attempting to influence voters.

The party further claimed that teachers were being transported to polling stations in private school buses. According to the SP, its complaints to the Additional District Magistrate had not resulted in action, prompting it to seek the Election Commission's intervention.

After casting her vote in Varanasi, SP MLA Ragini Sonkar alleged that the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) was threatening to withdraw school recognition and terminate teachers' employment. She said candidates had been required to confront officials during the campaign to address complaints of voter intimidation.

SP MP from Firozabad Akshay Yadav also cited alleged instances of bogus voting at several locations. He claimed that BJP leaders were checking voter slips inside polling stations and said his party would win if the elections were conducted fairly.

Kanti Singh, the SP candidate from the Lucknow Graduate Constituency, said polling was generally proceeding smoothly but alleged that reports of voters being misled had emerged from several districts.

Referring to a polling station in Hardoi's Balamau area, she called on officials to ensure that the process was conducted in accordance with constitutional and democratic principles.

Clashes and administrative inspections reported

A verbal altercation was reported inside a polling booth in Gorakhpur between SP candidate Dr Sanjay Tripathi and BJP Mandal In-charge Ashish Gupta over making statements on the premises.

In Sitapur, SP leaders reportedly removed and tore down posters critical of the party that had been put up along National Highway-30.

Meanwhile, in Jalaun, District Magistrate Sameer and Superintendent of Police Suresh Chandra Rawat inspected the polling centre at the District Council premises in Orai.

The District Magistrate said polling in the district was proceeding peacefully, while the Superintendent of Police assured that security arrangements would be maintained without lapses.

The complaints come as the Election Commission oversees polling across Uttar Pradesh for the 11 Legislative Council seats, with the SP seeking action over the alleged violations and calling for a free and fair election process.