SP cries cop harassment & foul play in Kannauj

KANPUR: Samajwadi Party (SP) has hurled allegations of high-handedness and foul play against the police and district authorities in Kannauj where voting for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha election was held on Monday. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s spouse Dimple Yadav is in fray against BJP’s Subrat Pathak from the constituency.
Lucknow reports said SP on Monday handed over a memorandum to chief electoral officer L Venkateshwar Lu, alleging that voter-verified paper audit (VVPAT) machines in two booths showed ‘lotus’ (BJP poll symbol) on pressing ‘cycle’ (SP poll symbol) and also demanded removal of DGP OP Singh, stating that “he is using his influence to disturb polling at Kannauj parliamentary constituency”.
In a separate complaint lodged with the Election Commission, a delegation comprising SP MP Dharmendra Yadav, national secretary Rajendra Chowdhry and party leader Arvind Kumar Singh gave details of 40 booths where EVMs reportedly malfunctioned in Kannauj.
Meanwhile, former Kannauj SP president and Lok Sabha election convener Munna Daroga alleged that SP leaders were ‘wrongfully’ put under house arrest by the Kannauj police on Sunday.
Daroga told TOI that the party has filed a complaint with the election commission, accusing the police of wrongfully confining SP workers at the behest of Pathak. “This is a blatant misuse of power and the democracy is being gagged,” he added.
The charge of house arrest was dismissed by the police. “Some places were raided as we had input about the presence of some ‘outsiders’, who were to distribute money to the voters at the houses of SP leaders. However, nothing suspicious was found and no one was taken under house arrest,” said Inspector Vinod Kumar Mishra of Sadar Kotwali.
There were also complaints that police harassed SP booth agents outside a polling station in Tirwa. The issue was even tweeted by the SP president via his twitter handle.
Kannauj, which is considered a SP stronghold, recorded nearly 55.22% polling till 5 pm. The seat is with SP since 1998.