Akhilesh Yadav: 'Election Commission is dead, will have to present white cloth', Akhilesh Yadav's tongue slips regarding by-election

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has given a controversial statement on the allegations being made regarding the Milkipur assembly by-election in Uttar Pradesh. He said that this is the way BJP fights elections. The Election Commission is dead. We will have to present them a white cloth.

Earlier, Akhilesh had launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the local administration. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had accused the BJP of weakening the democratic process and rigging the Milkipur assembly by-election in Ayodhya. He had also demanded action from the Election Commission.

Akhilesh claimed that the attitude of the police administration was undemocratic. Samajwadi Party booth agents were intimidated at dozens of booths. The BJP adopted all kinds of tactics for dishonesty in Milkipur. BJP goons created chaos to influence the Milkipur by-election. They got open protection from the police administration. The police administration grossly violated the election code of conduct by giving a free hand to the BJP goons.

Voting was influenced by creating an atmosphere of fear.

He alleged that the police administration influenced voting by creating an atmosphere of fear among the voters. BJP supporters themselves have admitted that they have cast fake votes. Samajwadi Party candidate Ajit Prasad himself caught some people casting fake votes. He said, 'The person who himself said that fake votes were cast in Raipatti Amaniganj in the Milkipur by-election has made it clear how the officials in the BJP government are involved in rigging. What more proof does the Election Commission need?'

Battle of prestige

The Milkipur by-election remains a battle of prestige between the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party. This seat is part of the politically important Ayodhya district. The by-election was necessitated after SP MP Awadhesh Prasad vacated the seat after winning the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat in last year's Lok Sabha elections. According to the Election Commission, 65.25 percent votes were cast on this seat till 5 pm. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Milkipur was the only assembly seat in Ayodhya district where the BJP lost.