– Akhilesh Tripathi
Lucknow: To ensure a fair and impartial by-election in Milkipur assembly constituency in Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has called for removal of certain police officials deployed in the area.
SP’s State President, Shyam Lal Pal, has formally appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to transfer three police officials from Milkipur. Despite this, the EC has yet to respond to the demand.
The Milkipur by-election is scheduled for February 5, with vote counting set for February 8. The BJP is reportedly making a concerted effort to secure the seat, prompting the SP to allege that local police and administration are acting under BJP’s influence.
In a letter to the EC, Pal specifically requested the transfer of SHOs of Inayatnagar, Kumarganj, and Khandasa police stations – Devendra Pandey, Amarjeet Singh, and Sandeep Singh, respectively. The SP also demanded the withdrawal of FIRs filed against its members and supporters, claiming these were politically motivated.
The SP has accused the administration and police of bias, with Pal stating: “Since the by-election was announced, these SHOs have registered FIRs against several SP office bearers, sector in-charges, workers, and village heads, fostering an environment of fear. They are acting as agents of the BJP, and their presence will hinder free and fair elections in Milkipur.”
The SP has urged the EC to take immediate action to remove the officials and ensure a neutral environment.
Prominent SP leaders, including MP Awadhesh Prasad, former minister Pawan Pandey, and former MLA Rushdi Miyan, held a press conference to voice their concerns. They alleged that BJP, facing a potential loss in Milkipur, is misusing administrative power to harass SP workers.
They stated: “The BJP is resorting to unfair tactics to win the Milkipur seat. However, the people of Milkipur are firmly with the SP and will reject the BJP’s attempts to manipulate the election.”
The SP has criticised the EC’s lack of response to its demands, suggesting that this silence raises questions about the Commission’s impartiality. The party claims the inaction reflects favouritism toward the BJP, undermining public trust in the electoral process.
