BJP Raises Concerns Over Burqa Voters
As Uttar Pradesh conducts bypolls across nine assembly seats, the voting process has been marked by controversy, with both the BJP and Samajwadi Party (SP) raising concerns over election procedures.
BJP Raises Concerns About Burqa-Clad Voters
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has flagged concerns about the identity verification of voters wearing burqas. BJP’s Akhilesh Kumar Awasthi, in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, urged the Election Commission to ensure proper checks of burqa-clad voters to prevent fraudulent voting. He mentioned past instances where men disguised in burqas attempted to vote and stressed that only thorough identity checks would ensure fair and transparent elections. Awasthi also called for the deployment of an adequate number of women police officers at polling stations to carry out these checks.
Samajwadi Party Alleges Improper ID Checks by Police
Meanwhile, the Opposition party Samajwadi Party (SP) raised concerns about the police allegedly checking voter ID cards during the voting process. SP leader and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav shared a video showing two police officers asking voters for their identity cards. He accused the police of creating obstacles for voters and called for the Election Commission’s immediate intervention. Yadav stated, “If the Election Commission exists, it must come alive and ensure that cops do not check IDs, roads are not shut, IDs are not seized, voters are not threatened, and the pace of voting is not slowed down.”
In response to the allegations, Kanpur police suspended the officers involved in the incident, reassuring the public that strict adherence to election procedures would be maintained.
Voting Continues Across Uttar Pradesh’s Nine Assembly Seats
Voting is taking place today across nine assembly constituencies: Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki. These seats became vacant after several sitting MLAs, including Akhilesh Yadav, were elected to the Lok Sabha. The election process continues to be under scrutiny as both parties ensure that voter rights are protected and the process remains free and fair.
