Mulayam says excessive security discouraging voters in UP

Mulayam Singh Yadav criticised the EC for the "excessive" security deployment in the state Assembly polls calling it discouraging for voters in exercising their franchise.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on saturday criticised the Election Commission for the "excessive" security deployment in the state Assembly polls, saying it was discouraging voters from exercising their franchise.

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"There is too much security. Just see the security arrangements in Saifai. The security is unprecedented and it is discouraging voters from going to the booths to cast their votes," Yadav said. Saifai is the ancestral village of the Samajwadi Party chief.

"I fear that this time it will be the poll agents who will cast the votes," he said.

Yadav said over 50 per cent of the voters have been discouraged from going to vote because of the security arrangements.
Sixty-two constituencies spread across 13 districts were going to polls today which would decide the fate of 839 contestants including Yadav.

Yadav cast his vote at Saifai, as also his brother and state PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav MP, the son of the chief minister.