The Samajwadi Party in its petition alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is removing police and civil officials from the Muslim and Yadav communities from assembly seats where bypolls are due to be held. (File photo/PTI)
A delegation of the Samajwadi Party met the Election Commission of India on Thursday and alleged bias and politicization in the posts of booth-level officers (BLOs) in Kundalki Assembly constituency in Moradabad district and West Samau constituency in Kanpur district
The Election Commission of India has asked the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh to provide a detailed report as allegations of bias in the appointment of certain community officials have surfaced ahead of by-election polls in the state, News18 has learnt.
The report was sought based on a complaint from the state's main opposition Samajwadi Party. A delegation from the SP met the committee on Thursday and alleged bias and politicization in the posts of booth-level officers (BLOs) in Kundarki assembly constituency in Moradabad district and Sisamau constituency in Kanpur district.
“Considering complaints from the Samajwadi Party, the Election Commission has asked the Uttar Pradesh chief executive to provide a detailed report alleging bias in the appointment of certain community officials ahead of the by-elections,” sources said.
The Samajwadi Party in its petition alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is removing police and civil officials from the Muslim and Yadav communities from assembly seats where bypolls are due to be held. The SP claimed that BLOs belonging to these communities were also being transferred.
The party also alleged that appointments to the BLO were made on the basis of caste and religion. It requires polling bodies to ensure equal opportunities for all parties and candidates in the voting process.
Votes are planned for later this year in ten parliamentary seats where MLAs have either resigned or been convicted. With most seats falling vacant in June, the ECI has six months to hold by-elections.
At least nine seats are vacant as MPs were elected to the Lok Sabha polls, while an MP from West Samut parliamentary seat was convicted and sentenced to seven years in jail. SP MLA Irfan Solanki was disqualified after being jailed in a criminal case.
The list of MLAs who have moved to the Lok Sabha includes Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and senior leader Awadhesh Prasad. Of the ten seats, the Socialist Party had earlier won five – Karhal, Sisamau, Milkipur, Katehari and Kundarki — While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Majhawan Nishad Party won the Ghaziabad, Phulpur and Khair seats, the Janata Party Rashtriya Lok Dal won Mirapur seat.
