Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party has accused authorities of preventing Muslim voters from exercising their franchise in the bye-elections in the Ghosi Assembly constituency, Uttar Pradesh.
Arvind Kumar Singh, a national executive member of the Samajwadi Party, alleged that the polling officer at booth number 137 in Ghosi was obstructing Muslim voters.
He claimed that when Muslims arrived at the polling station, they were informed that their votes had already been cast. Singh also accused the police and polling officers of using abusive language towards Muslim voters when they raised objections.
Singh further asserted that the head of Daulatpoor village and the booth agent of number 419 were being coerced into ensuring that residents voted for the BJP. These claims have raised concerns about the integrity of the election process in Ghosi.
The Samajwadi Party has appealed to the Election Commission to take stringent measures to ensure a free and fair election in the constituency. The Ghosi bye-election, triggered by Dara Singh Chauhan's resignation, has become a battleground between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party.
Chauhan, who won the seat in 2022 on a Samajwadi Party ticket, is now contesting for the BJP against Sudhakar Singh of the Samajwadi Party.
With nearly 4.38 lakh voters in Ghosi, including approximately 90,000 Muslims, the allegations of voter suppression have raised concerns about the impartiality of the electoral process.
Before the elections, Muslim residents claimed they were pressured by police officers to vote for the BJP, further fuelling apprehensions about voter coercion.
Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav and ten legislators met with Inspector General of Police Akhilesh Kumar to demand action against officials allegedly threatening voters. Yadav also accused state house officers and circle officers in Ghosi and Kopaganj of intimidating and harassing voters.