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The bypoll was necessitated after Awadhesh Prasad vacated the seat on winning the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Faizabad.
SP President Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday strongly criticised the Election Commission (EC), calling it “dead” due to its lack of action over the alleged malpractice in the Milkipur assembly bypoll in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. He had accused the ruling BJP government of rigging the by-election.
The Samajwadi Party leader even suggested that the EC should be gifted a “white cloth” for its inaction.
“This is the manner in which BJP contests elections. Election Commission is dead. We will have to gift them white cloth,” Yadav told news agency ANI.
#WATCH | On allegations surrounding Milkipur Assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav says, “This is the manner in which BJP contests elections. Election Commission is dead. We will have to gift them white cloth.” pic.twitter.com/3nngG29eHd— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2025
The SP leader’s strong comments came a day after he accused the BJP of undermining the democratic process.
Akhilesh Yadav’s Allegations
Akhilesh Yadav had alleged that the by-election was marred by voter suppression and fraudulent activities, including fake voting and intimidation of voters and election agents, claiming that the BJP had colluded with local authorities to rig the election.
He also posted an audio clip on social media platform X, which he claimed was evidence of the malpractice, and called on the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to act on the issue.
“This is a sting operation exposing the truth of presiding officers who are completing targets of fake voting for the ruling party. Elections at their booths should be cancelled immediately and they should be suspended on the basis of prima facie audio evidence and then dismissed after proper judicial action,” he said.
The former UP CM alleged that SP booth agents were harassed at numerous polling stations and the BJP supporters resorted to violent tactics to influence the outcome of the election.
BJP’s Response
However, the BJP rejected Yadav’s allegations, calling them baseless and a product of frustration following the SP’s defeat.
BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi accused Yadav of spreading false propaganda and claimed the Milkipur bypoll was conducted fairly and transparently. “The Samajwadi Party is spreading lies out of frustration after its imminent defeat in Milkipur,” Tripathi noted.
The BJP leader also refuted Yadav’s claims of electoral malpractice, suggesting that the former chief minister would eventually blame EVMs for the defeat, as has often been the case in previous elections.
The Milkipur bypoll has become a high-stakes contest between the SP and the BJP, as the seat lies in the politically crucial Ayodhya district. The by-election was triggered after Awadhesh Prasad vacated the seat following his victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Faizabad.
The bypoll is seen as a significant contest for both parties, with the BJP aiming to avenge its loss in the region during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
(With inputs from PTI)
