"Trusted ECI earlier, then we realised discrepancies in 2022 polls": Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claims ECI and officials colluded to delete SP votes during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections.
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming that systemic malpractice led to the deliberate deletion of his party's supporters from voter lists during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections. Speaking at a press conference, the SP chief suggested that what was once a hidden pattern of electoral manipulation has now finally come to light.
The Shift from Trust to Skepticism
Reflecting on the party's stance during previous electoral cycles, Yadav admitted that the Samajwadi Party had previously placed significant faith in the impartiality of the poll body. He noted that during the 2017 elections, the party did not scrutinize the processes as closely as they might have, operating under the assumption that the ECI would maintain its institutional credibility.
"We didn't pay enough attention in 2017. We trusted and believed that the Election Commission would be impartial and would not compromise its credibility," Yadav stated, marking a sharp contrast to the party's current position.
Allegations of Collusion and Voter Deletion
Yadav revisited claims he made during the party's national convention following the 2022 Legislative Assembly election results. He alleged a direct collusion between election officials and the commission to undermine the Samajwadi Party's electoral strength. According to the SP leader, a significant number of voters who had participated in the 2019 elections were suddenly unable to cast their votes in 2022.
Key points from Yadav's allegations include:
- Unlawful Deletions: Voters were reportedly removed from the rolls without prior notice or adherence to established legal protocols.
- Impact on Results: Yadav claimed these actions directly prevented the formation of a Samajwadi Party government in 2022.
- Long-standing Malpractice: He asserted that these irregularities have been occurring for a long time, but have only recently been exposed to the public eye.
The 2022 Election Context
The 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections saw a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP secured 255 seats individually, while the BJP-led alliance (BJP+) reached a total of 273 seats, allowing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to retain power. The Samajwadi Party finished as the primary opposition with 111 seats.
Internal Dissent Within the ECI?
The allegations come amid growing scrutiny of the Election Commission's internal workings. Recent reports have highlighted potential friction within the commission, suggesting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a ten-month period regarding electoral matters.
These reported disagreements reportedly touched upon sensitive areas, including:
- The handling of Form 6.
- The process of voter deletions.
- Access to electoral-roll databases.
The Election Commission has dismissed the notion that these objections represented institutional dissent. The poll body maintained that any queries or suggestions raised during the draft stages are part of a standard administrative process and emphasized that all final decisions taken by the Commission are unanimous and approved by all three commissioners.