As nine Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh went to the polls for by-elections on Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called on the Election Commission to ensure proper verification of voters wearing burqas. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, BJP leader Akhilesh Kumar Awasthi claimed there have been instances of individuals abusing the practice by voting multiple times under the guise of veiled women.
“Some men have even worn burqas to vote, and there have been cases where such individuals were stopped by poll officials. If the identity of burqa-clad women is not thoroughly verified, it could lead to instances of fake voting,” Awasthi stated. He further emphasized the need for deploying an adequate number of women police officers at polling stations to carry out these checks.
The Opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), on the other hand, accused police officials of checking voter IDs at polling stations, which they claimed is a violation of electoral norms. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav shared a video on social media showing two police officers asking voters for identification cards and demanded the Election Commission take immediate action.
“If the Election Commission exists, it must ensure that police officers do not check IDs, roads are not blocked, IDs are not seized, voters are not threatened, and the voting process is not slowed down or obstructed,” Yadav said in his post. He urged voters who were sent back without voting to return to the polling booths and cast their votes, promising that irregularities would be addressed promptly.
In response to the allegations, the Kanpur police announced that the officers involved in the incident had been suspended. During elections, state police come under the direct supervision of the Election Commission, which is tasked with maintaining impartiality and order.
Yadav also encouraged voters to report any further disruptions to polling officials or party representatives, urging them to vote “fearlessly.”
The by-elections are being held in nine Assembly constituencies, including Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki. These seats were vacated after their respective MLAs, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, won Lok Sabha seats in recent elections.
The bypolls are seen as a significant test for all major parties in the state, including the BJP, Samajwadi Party, and others, as they look to consolidate their positions ahead of the next state Assembly elections.
