Uttar Pradesh by-elections witness 49% voter turnout amid allegations of polling irregularities

By-elections to nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday saw 49% voting on average, with Kundarki recording the highest polling (57.7 %) while Ghaziabad saw the lowest turnout of 33.3%.

As soon as the polling started, allegations were made from both Samajwadi Party and the BJP throughout the day.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav told media persons that the UP police terrorised voters in minority areas and discouraged them from voting. He also shared videos of police trying to check the identity cards of the voters in the afternoon.


After receiving complaints from workers, Yadav held a press conference in the afternoon where he alleged that the BJP government had created an atmosphere of fear and looted the democratic right of the people.

"BJP wants to remain in power by crushing democracy and the Constitution, whereas in democracy, the government runs on public shame. BJP is an expert in ruining free and fair elections. The Election Commission (EC) is also not able to show transparency in discharging its duties. The public is aware and is protesting for its rights," Yadav alleged in a press release issued by the party.

The EC, taking cognisance of the complaints and videos on social media, said in a statement that it had ordered suspension of police personnel in Moradabad, Kanpur and Muzaffarnagar for violating the norms regarding the checking of voters.

UP BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary alleged that the Samajwadi Party had called people from outside and was engaged in bogus voting.