UP: BJP Creating Atmosphere Of Fear Among Minority Voters In Ghosi: SP Tells EC Ahead Of Bypoll

Ahead of the September 5 byelection to the Ghosi assembly seat in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party has accused the BJP of creating an atmosphere of fear for the voters, especially the minorities.

The party has approached the Election Commission to ensure independent and transparent polls to maintain the faith of people in democracy and the impartiality of the poll body, PTI reported.

On Friday, former Uttar Pradesh minister Rajendra Chaudhary-led delegation submitted a memorandum to the state's chief electoral officer. The SP has alleged that over two dozen ministers of the BJP's state and central governments are misusing government machinery in the constituency and flouting the model code of conduct. The party press release stated that the BJP leaders are also pressuring the voters to vote for the saffron party.

The Samajwadi Party, in its memorandum, alleges that motorcycles, tractors, and other vehicles parked in front of residences in minority-majority areas are being forcefully impounded and transported to police stations. This action is said to be generating an atmosphere of intimidation among minority communities, potentially discouraging their participation in the voting process.

According to the memorandum, electricity department officials are visiting the houses of the Samajwadi Party supporters to instil fear in the guise of checking power metres and demanded an effective check on the working style of the ministers, leaders, police administration and others for a free, fair and fearless elections in keeping with the model code of conduct.

Chaudhary noted that they have observed that, as of September 2, 2023, a total of 15 police sub-inspectors, 83 head constables and constables, along with 50 women constables, have been assigned duties in the Ghosi assembly constituency for the duration of the elections. Notably, none of these personnel belong to the Yadav or Muslim communities.

This list has been made on the instructions of the BJP ministers and leaders, he alleged.

The BJP has fielded Dara Singh Chauhan, and the Samajwadi Party has given a ticket to former MLA Sudhakar Singh from the constituency.

Chauhan, a former minister in the Yogi Adityanath administration, had previously defected from the BJP to join the Samajwadi Party, securing victory in the 2022 assembly elections. However, he returned to the BJP in July, leading to his resignation from the assembly and consequently triggering the need for this election.