UP bypolls: SP and BJP clash over voter suppression allegations
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The Samajwadi Party released a video showing voters in Katehari alleging that the police were threatening Muslims.
Uttar Pradesh: The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have traded allegations of malpractice during the bye-elections in nine Assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, with reports of voter suppression and intimidation emerging from multiple regions. Both parties have accused each other of attempting to manipulate the electoral process to gain an advantage.
The Samajwadi Party alleged that voters were being assaulted, intimidated, and prevented from voting in key constituencies like Mirapur, Katehari, Karhal, and Kundarki. In Katehari, videos shared by the party purportedly show police officers threatening Muslim voters, while in Karhal, it was claimed that armed individuals were stopping voters and attempting to capture polling booths. The SP also alleged that in Kundarki, voter slips were being withheld, and harassment of Muslim voters was reported.
The SP’s accusations prompted the Kanpur Police to suspend sub-inspectors implicated in voter suppression incidents, ensuring adherence to proper electoral processes. “Everyone has been directed to ensure complete compliance with the election process,” the police stated.
Meanwhile, the BJP responded with its own accusations. The party alleged that in Kundarki, individuals were being provided with fake identity documents near mosques and madrasas to facilitate voting. BJP leaders further accused SP members of threatening voters at polling stations in Phulpur and Sishamau and claimed that the SP was obstructing the verification of voter identities in some areas.
Amid these allegations, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav urged election authorities to ensure that only polling officers verify voter identities, emphasizing the need for fairness in the election process.
Apart from Uttar Pradesh, bye-elections are also being conducted in four Assembly constituencies in Punjab and one each in Kerala and Uttarakhand. Simultaneously, voting is underway for all 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra and 38 out of 81 seats in Jharkhand. Both parties continue to monitor voter turnout and the election proceedings as allegations mount in this high-stakes political contest.