Explorer

Akhilesh blames EVMs, BJP's use of state machinery for UP civic poll defeat

Kolkata/Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday put the blame on the EVMs for his party's rout in the Uttar Pradesh civic polls, and accused the BJP of using all means including state resources to win the elections. Addressing the West Bengal state conference of the SP in Kolkata, a day after the civic poll results were declared, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said the BJP had done far better in the seats where EVMs were used. "Where voting was done by EVM, the BJP got 46 per cent of the seats, but only 15 per cent where voting was done by ballot," he said. Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the UP government used government helicopters like "Pushpak Viman" and "brought Ram and Sita to Ayodhya". Citing an example, he said UP Chief Minister Yogi Adidyanath had visited Ayodhya five times during the campaign. However, Akhilesh Yadav did not agree that the BJP had improved its showing in the civic polls, that came eight months after Adityanath was sworn in as chief minister. "The BJP had won three-fourth of the seats in the assembly polls. But in this election, many seats have gone to independent candidates," he said. Earlier in the day, SP UP unit chief Naresh Uttam had charged the BJP with intimidating polling officials and opposition party candidates, tampering voter lists and manipulating the EVMs. Talking to the media in Lucknow, Uttam said the BJP indulged in all "undemocratic acts" to emerge victorious. "The ruling party should realise that we have got good (number of) seats despite the fact that our chief Akhilesh Yadav did not canvass," he said. Uttam said had Akhilesh Yadav campaigned extensively, the results would have been much different and the BJP would have been wiped out in the urban body polls. The BJP had nothing to project about its government and hence they not only engaged in electoral malpractices they also pressed into service the entire government machinery, including the cabinet, the SP leader said. State spokesman of the party, Rajendra Chowdhary said the BJP had trumpeted the results as its victory though this "was neither the truth nor the exact reality". "BJP has done extensive bungling and now is telling the incomplete results," he added. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) also accused the BJP of resorting to EVM related malpractices and demanded that the 2019 general elections be held through ballot papers.
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headline

I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar: Here's How Congress, RJD Have Decided To Share Seats After JD-U's Exit
I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar: Here's How Congress, RJD Have Decided To Share Seats After JD-U's Exit
'BJP Should Pay Rs 4,600 Crore': Congress Slams Income Tax Dept, ECI After Getting Rs 1,700-Crore Notice
'BJP Should Pay Rs 4,600 Crore': Congress Slams Income Tax Dept, ECI After Getting Rs 1,700-Crore Notice
Another Blow To Congress As I-T Dept Serves Rs 1,700-Crore Notice Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections: Report
Another Blow To Congress As I-T Dept Serves Rs 1,700-Crore Notice Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections
Sunita Kejriwal Launches WhatsApp Campaign To Drum Up Support For Jailed Delhi CM
Sunita Kejriwal Launches WhatsApp Campaign To Drum Up Support For Jailed Delhi CM
Advertisement
for smartphones
and tablets

Videos

Mukhtar Ansari Death: Gangster's Passing and Graveyard Arrangements, watch ground report | ABP NewsABP SHIKHAR SAMMELAN 2024: 'People Might Ask To Reveal Who Voted For Whom Soon': Rajnath On Electoral BondsABP SHIKHAR SAMMELAN 2024: POK Will Always Remain An Integral Part Of India, Says Rajnath SinghABP Shikar Sammelan 2024: Rift between Akali Dal-BJP due to farmers issues? | Rajnath Singh

Photogallery

Embed widget