Samajwadi Party has alleged that several EVMs were not working in Kannauj Lok Sabha seat during the fourth phase of polls on Monday.
The party had already lodged protest over issuing ‘Red Card’ to SP leaders in Kannauj by the district authorities just to benefit the BJP. These leaders would only be allowed to vote while they would have to stay in their house rest of the day till polling ends.
However on Monday, SP has sent a letter to the EC about malfunction of more that 100 EVMs in Kannauj. Election Commission sources here said they are looking into the allegations and were sorting out the issue.
Meanwhile, SP on Sunday night wrote to the Uttar Pradesh Election Commission after the local police allegedly put a few senior leaders in Kannauj under house arrest.
Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s wife, Dimple Yadav, is contesting on a party ticket from Kannauj, where polling is held in the fourth phase.
SP state chief Naresh Uttam Patel wrote to the state poll panel in connection with the incident, which came to light after pictures of police personnel camping outside senior leaders went viral on social media. According to sources, more than a dozen leaders were put under “house arrest”, which prevented them from carrying out any form of political activity.
SP’s Anil Arya alleged that the party’s leaders were being harassed by local police at the behest of the BJP government. “Not even one BJP leader has been put under house arrest, but our leaders are being stopped by the police and have been trapped inside their houses,” he said.
Similar allegations were made by another SP leader, Tehseen Siddiqui. “This is blatant misuse of power and democracy is being murdered by such acts,” he said.
However, the police have maintained silence over the episode. Kannauj Superintendent of Police Amrendra Pratap Singh said that the action was taken to hold free and fair polls. (UNI)
