SP alleges poll rigging in UP by-elections, demands re-poll at 52 booths amid alleged voter intimidation

The Uttar Pradesh by-elections are witnessing rising tensions ahead of the final results, with the Samajwadi Party (SP) accusing the ruling government and election authorities of poll manipulation. SP has raised serious concerns over alleged rigging in the Meerapur-Kundarki and Sisaamau constituencies. The party has demanded the cancellation of election results in these areas and called for re-polling at 52 polling booths in Meerapur, where it claims voters were intimidated and prevented from casting their ballots.

In response to these allegations, the Election Commission has confirmed that it has received 314 complaints related to the by-election process. These complaints involve accusations of fraudulent voting, voter suppression, and misconduct by election officials and police personnel. Among the specific complaints, several voters have reported being threatened or physically harassed to either not vote or cast their vote in favor of a particular candidate. In a statement, ST Hasan, a senior SP leader, expressed concern over the conduct of the police, particularly in Muslim-majority areas. He said, "The police do not have the right to check any voter’s ID, intimidate, or use lathis," urging the Election Commission to take strict action against the accused officers.

The allegations against the police extend to Rajiv Sharma, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kakarouli Police Station. SP has accused Sharma of threatening voters with a revolver and issuing death threats to prevent them from voting in Meerapur. SP has called for his immediate arrest and demanded that his services be terminated. Additionally, the party has named several other police officers whom they claim were involved in similar voter suppression tactics. The Samajwadi Party has also demanded that these officers be suspended and investigated.

The controversy surrounding the elections has been further fueled by incidents of clashes and protests at polling booths. In Meerapur, Muzaffarnagar, there were reports of a chaotic atmosphere at polling stations, with heavy crowds leading to tensions between voters and law enforcement. The police were required to step in and control the crowd to maintain order. In Moradabad, a video surfaced showing protests against police barricading at polling booths, which residents claimed prevented them from entering the polling stations. These incidents occurred in areas with significant Muslim populations, raising concerns over how these communities were treated during the voting process.

In light of these ongoing issues, the Samajwadi Party has demanded a thorough investigation into the conduct of both police officers and election officials. They assert that the alleged misconduct is an attempt to manipulate the results and undermine the democratic process. The Election Commission has yet to take action on the demands put forth by the SP, but it has been monitoring the situation closely.