The Samajwadi Party has complained to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer, alleging booth capturing during elections to 11 Legislative Council seats, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
The party has sought fresh polling at the affected booths and demanded that FIRs be registered against those responsible. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 27.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the SP said its state president, Shyam Lal Pal, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer on the directions of party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
The party urged the poll official to take immediate note of complaints of booth capturing in several districts, including Amroha, Agra, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh and Gorakhpur. It sought fresh polling based on video recordings from polling booths and complaints filed by candidates and political parties.
The SP also demanded that FIRs be registered at local police stations and legal action be taken against those allegedly involved in booth capturing.
According to PTI, the party alleged that ministers, MPs and MLAs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party influenced voting for the 11 Legislative Council seats across 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat and Unnao were excluded from the electoral exercise.
In its memorandum, the SP sought fresh polling at all polling stations where booth capturing was reported. These included seven booths in Amroha district, five in Agra and one each in Fatehpur and Pratapgarh.
The election is being seen as a close contest between the BJP and the SP ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
On Friday, SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary alleged that the BJP, fearing defeat in the MLC elections, resorted to rigging, unfair practices and the use of the administration to intimidate the opposition.
"Flouting all norms of public decorum and morality, BJP ministers, MLAs and influential leaders, showing a complete disregard for the dignity of their positions, went to the extent of manipulating the voting process and orchestrating booth capturing, effectively murdering democracy," Chaudhary claimed in the statement.
"In several locations, only those carrying slips marked with the BJP's colours were permitted to vote, while BJP-aligned voters were allowed to cast their ballots without any identity verification".
He also accused the Election Commission of remaining "asleep" and failing to act despite receiving complaints, PTI reported.
"By acting as a political worker for the BJP, the Election Commission was involved in the murder of democracy. This situation is deeply alarming for a democracy. If the Election Commission itself prevents the conduct of fair elections, then the nation must rise against this dictatorship," Chaudhary said in Friday's statement.
The SP has, therefore, asked the Chief Electoral Officer to order fresh polling at the affected booths and ensure police cases and legal action against those allegedly responsible, while votes are due to be counted on October 27.
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