Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference at the party office, in Lucknow on Tuesday
Lucknow: SP president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday urged CEC Gyanesh Kumar to take immediate cognisance of alleged delay in the counting of votes for the UP Legislative Council elections and ensure transparency in the declaration of results.
In a post on X, Yadav said that the counting process was being deliberately slowed and claimed that the Election Commission was not officially announcing round-wise results. “Do not make a mockery of democracy,” he said, calling on the poll panel to ensure transparent and timely declaration of results. The SP chief said party workers and office-bearers were closely monitoring the counting process and would remain vigilant until winners were formally issued certificates. The office of the UP Chief Electoral Officer said the allegations were being verified. Earlier reporting noted: The SP national president also raised the issue of “unfolded votes” found in ballot boxes at booth number 97 in the Lucknow Graduates’ constituency, where SP candidate Kanti Singh is contesting.
He further alleged that political parties and the media were not being adequately informed about the progress of counting. He warned that the party would protest and initiate legal action if any district magistrate or commissioner was found indulging in irregularities during the counting process. Speaking to the media, he alleged that this pointed to a conspiracy to steal votes and claimed the BJP had been “caught red-handed. He noted that voters are instructed to fold ballot papers before inserting them into the box, yet some votes were discovered unfolded.
Earlier reporting noted: Akhilesh Yadav accuses EC of deliberate delay in UP MLC poll vote count Samajwadi Party national president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday accused the Election Commission (EC) and the administration of deliberately delaying the vote count in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (MLC) elections and demanded immediate transparency in the process.