Lucknow: By-polls in nine Assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh witnessed widespread allegations of violence, bogus voting, and voter intimidation on Wednesday. Police actions, including lathi charges and turning away voters, have sparked outrage, especially from the opposition. In Meerapur, Muslim voters alleged they were prevented from voting, with videos surfacing of individuals being turned away by police at polling booths. Following complaints, five police personnel were suspended, and others were removed from poll duty for violating Election Commission guidelines.

Opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and AIMIM accused the administration of voter suppression. AIMIM candidate Mohammad Arshad alleged that police restricted voters from leaving their homes, while SP candidate Sumbul Rana reported harassment during identity checks. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Mithlesh Pal claimed bogus voting by outsiders and individuals in burqas, raising concerns over electoral malpractice. Meanwhile, in Muzaffarnagar’s Meerapur constituency, police resorted to lathi charges to disperse a crowd, leading to further tensions.

The Election Commission, responding to social media complaints, directed officials to ensure a fair process. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar issued strict instructions to district officers to address voter grievances. Despite these measures, incidents in Moradabad, Kakroli, and other constituencies underscored the challenges of maintaining electoral integrity in the by-polls. Voter turnout and the results from these contentious elections are likely to attract further scrutiny.