The crucial Mainpuri bye-election that will see a contest between Yadav bahu Dimple and BJP’s Raghuraj Singh Shakya is underway. Till mid-day 19.01 per cent voters’ turnout was recorded, said the Election Commission.
Even as the voting turnout has been less than expected, heated exchange between the two parties continues. The Samajwadi party has alleged that BJP is indulging in election malpractices.
The prominent seat fell vacant after the death of veteran Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Candidate Dimple Yadav expressed her confidence that the people of Mainpuri would stand by those playing fair.
Earlier she had tweeted, “DM Mainpuri is not receiving the calls of SP workers regarding the complaint of rigging in the elections. Take note, Election Commissioner.”
The DM (Mahendra Bahadur Singh) promptly responded to the tweet with a counter saying Dimple’s claims were baseless.
During the bye-election, the Yadav family was seen together sharing the stage and campaigning for the election. It seems the Mainpuri bypolls have brought the estranged family together. Just a few days before the election Samajwadi party leaders objected about the unfair practices in the conduct of election and apprehension about the local police misusing powers.
In the bye-election Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav made his wife Dimple Yadav a contestant in the election from Samajwadi Party.
Earlier on Friday, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party chief and uncle of Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Singh Yadav accused the local police of surveillance on Samajwadi party leaders through drones.
Samajwadi Party chief then addressed the media, accusing the police and the local administration of preventing people from casting their votes at polling booths in Mainpuri and Rampur.
“There are videos that show that police are stopping people from voting in Rampur. What are the Election Commission’s guidelines?” asked Akhilesh Yadav.
State BJP president Bhupinder Singh Chaudhary trashed the allegations and said the Akhilesh Yadav-led party is headed for a defeat in all the three seats polling today.
The mainpuri bypolls were necessitated because the death of veteran Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.