Following the results of the 11-seat Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP was winning elections not through votes but through electoral manipulation. He claimed that BJP leaders and officials involved in the alleged irregularities had crossed all limits to secure victory in the MLC elections.
In a post on X, Akhilesh Yadav said the alleged conspiracy against Dr Sanjayan Tripathi was not merely because he was an SP candidate but also reflected the mindset of those who believed that “Hata nahi bhata” (the mindset of not liking the Hata). He said the teaching community would never forget the alleged harassment of Dr Tripathi and the tears he shed.
Akhilesh Yadav further claimed that teachers had been made to collect fodder. He asserted that the teaching community would fulfil its resolve by defeating the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, SP candidate Lal Bihari Yadav, who won the Varanasi division teacher constituency, expressed gratitude to the teaching community and Akhilesh Yadav for their positive outlook.
Lal Bihari Yadav said that just as the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, popularly known as Netaji, was regarded as a leader of teachers, the current SP national president also shared the same approach towards the teaching community.
He clarified that the University Grants Commission (UGC) Bill had no impact on the election. According to him, those associated with the Bill remained divided, while teachers seeking job security stood firmly united with the Samajwadi Party.
In the Agra division teacher MLC constituency, SP candidate Dr Akash Agrawal secured victory after obtaining more than 50 per cent of the second-preference votes. He had established a lead of around 3,700 votes before the second-preference counting.
Permission has been sought from the Election Commission for the formal declaration of his victory.
Meanwhile, Dr Akash Agrawal levelled serious allegations against the BJP candidate over the uproar and physical altercation that took place at the end of the second round of counting.
He alleged that the BJP candidate had initiated the dispute. Agrawal said CCTV footage from the counting room would reveal the complete truth and identify those involved in the alleged attack.
The election results have seen the BJP win five seats, while the SP has secured victories in the Varanasi and Agra teacher constituencies. The allegations raised by Akhilesh Yadav and the dispute during counting in Agra have brought the conduct of the MLC elections into focus, particularly the concerns raised by the SP over the counting process and the treatment of its candidates.
About The Author
Comment List