Milkipur by-poll: 65.25 pc voter turnout, allegations of fake voting and voter intimidation

More than 65 percent of the total 3.70 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the Milkipur Assembly bypoll in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, surpassing the turnout recorded in the 2022 Assembly elections.

Voting began at 7 am and concluded at 5 pm, with officials confirming that those in line before the closing time would be allowed to cast their votes.

The bypoll has become a high-stakes contest between the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with the seat holding major political importance in the Ayodhya district.

Samajwadi Party leaders have raised allegations of voter intimidation, accusing the police of checking identity cards to create fear among voters.

SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav took to social media, calling for the Election Commission to investigate claims. He posted on X, "The Election Commission should immediately take cognisance of pictures related to the news that Ayodhya Police -- senior police officers included -- is checking the ID cards of voters in Milkipur."

"This is a murder of democracy by indirectly influencing voting by creating fear among voters. Such people should be removed immediately and punitive action should be taken," he said attaching a picture with his post.

However, Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police Raj Karan Nayyar categorically refuted the accusations.

The SSP said the photo in question depicted police personnel verifying the identification credentials of a polling agent and emphasised that law enforcement officers are not conducting any verification of voters' identification documents.

Speaking to reporters, Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad alleged that the BJP aimed to win the election by pressuring officers to influence the voting.

Yadav also posted some videos on X alleging fake voting in the poll

"The person who spoke about casting fake votes in Rai Patti Amaniganj in the Milkipur by-election has made it clear how the officials in the BJP government are involved in rigging. Does the Election Commission need any more proof?" Yadav alleged in his post

There are 10 candidates in the race, but the main contest is between Samajwadi Party's Ajit Prasad and BJP's Chandrabhanu Paswan.

The stakes in the by-poll in Milkipur, which is in Ayodhya district, were raised by SP's Awadhesh Prasad's surprise win from Faizabad in last year's Lok Sabha polls that came just months after the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking to reporters, IG Pravin Kumar said, "Voting is going on peacefully at all polling stations. Magistrates and police officers are on patrol. Paramilitary forces have been deployed at important polling stations."

"Strict action will be taken against those spreading rumours or indulging in any other illegal activity," he added.

Voter demographics and political landscape

There are 255 polling centres and 414 polling stations for the election.

More than 1.93 lakh men, over 1.78 lakh women voters and eight third-gender people are registered to vote for the poll. There are 4,811 first-time voters in the assembly constituency.

While the BSP is not contesting the by-poll, the Congress is backing its alliance partner SP on the seat. Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) has also fielded a candidate from the seat.

The by-poll was necessitated when SP leader Awadhesh Prasad vacated the Milkipur seat after winning the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Even as the SP is looking to retain the seat, the BJP sees the election as an opportunity to avenge its loss in Faizabad. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Milkipur was the only assembly seat the BJP lost in Ayodhya district. PTI