Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to take immediate cognisance of the poll process and make CCTV footage of counting public. Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, he questioned why counting of votes cannot be telecast live when court proceedings are broadcast. He demanded that the Supreme Court should take note of the situation and provide live CCTV footage of the counting process in West Bengal to the people of the country.
Demand for transparency in counting
Akhilesh Yadav's comments came a day after Trinamool Congress national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee demanded CCTV footage of counting centres from where his party representatives were allegedly thrown out by central forces while counting was underway and results were yet to be announced.
The Samajwadi Party chief highlighted that similar misuse of central and state forces was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh during the state polls in 2017 and 2022, as well as the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. He credited his party cadres and voters for standing up against the central forces to cast their votes.
Solidarity with West Bengal
Expressing solidarity with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh said, I can imagine the magnitude of struggle and attack that Didi faced. In Uttar Pradesh, we have faced them, suffered, examined them closely and understood them. He further asserted that the demand for live CCTV footage is essential to ensure free and fair elections.
His remarks come amid heightened political tensions over alleged irregularities during the counting process in West Bengal, with the TMC accusing central forces of bias and intimidation.
