E-Paper
Lok Sabha elections 2019: SP seeks UP DGP’s removal, says cops favouring BJP
A delegation of SP leaders, led by Rajendra Chaudhary, met UP chief electoral officer L Venkateshwarlu and submitted a memorandum mentioning the problems found in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.
The Samajwadi Party on Monday urged the Election Commission to remove UP director general of police (DGP) OP Singh alleging that he was favouring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and trying to influence elections.
A delegation of SP leaders, led by Rajendra Chaudhary, met UP chief electoral officer L Venkateshwarlu and submitted a memorandum mentioning the problems found in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. The SP leaders alleged that in at least two polling booths in Kannauj, the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machine showed voting for the BJP when the vote was actually cast for the SP.
They claimed that the police issued warning notes to a large number of SP supporters in Kannauj bounding them to their homes after casting their own votes. Samajwadi Party has fielded Dimple Yadav, wife of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, from Kannauj. She is seeking re-election from Kannauj for the third time. Party leader Dharmendra Yadav said, “The DGP is misusing the government machinery to help the BJP. We have demanded that the EC should remove him immediately.” The delegation also highlighted the issue of faulty EVMs and submitted the list of booths where EVMs glitches were reported. In booth number 482 and 483, the party claimed, the VVPAT showed ‘lotus’ (BJP poll symbol) slip when the button for ‘cycle’ (SP poll symbol) was pressed. Chaudhary alleged that a police inspector in Kannauj was working as a BJP agent. The SP delegation requested the CEO to look into the matter to ensure free and fair polls.
“The police are terrorising minority voters. The force is being misused in favour of the BJP. We have apprised the CEO about it,” he said.
