Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday issued a direct challenge to the Election Commission of India (ECI), urging it to prove its credibility in light of the data emerging from the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking at the party headquarters in Lucknow, Yadav also accused Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of sending a covert message to officials to manipulate the process.
Allegations of Electoral Manipulation
Akhilesh Yadav pointedly referenced a previous statement by CM Yogi Adityanath, who had claimed that four crore votes had been deleted from the rolls. "The moment the Chief Minister said that four crore votes have been cut, he gave a message to officials to indulge in dishonesty and manage things," Yadav asserted. He framed this remark as a precursor to potential malpractice, raising serious questions about the fairness of the revision exercise.
The SP chief warned that the entire purpose of the SIR would be defeated if discrepancies are found between the final voter lists held by the national Election Commission and the Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission. "After the SIR, if there is a mismatch in the number of voters in the list available with the ECI and the one with the State Election Commission UP, then the very purpose of SIR will stand defeated," he stated. He directly questioned whether there was a plan to misappropriate things at the behest of the Chief Minister.
A Call for Vigilance and Booth-Level Strength
Addressing a large gathering of party workers for the second consecutive day of New Year celebrations, Akhilesh Yadav called for heightened alertness. He instructed functionaries to closely monitor the SIR exercise and ensure that any legitimate voter whose name was wrongly deleted is reinstated in the list. "BJP manipulates things at every level. We will have to keep our ears and eyes open," he cautioned.
He emphasized the critical need to strengthen the party's network at the booth level, identifying it as a key battleground. Beyond the electoral process, Yadav connected the issue to broader public discontent, pivoting to the government's performance on agricultural and economic fronts.
Shifting Focus to Farmers and Youth
Yadav launched a sharp critique of the ruling BJP's track record, particularly concerning farmers. He highlighted the increased cost of cultivation due to rising prices of fertilizers, seeds, and irrigation, which has severely reduced profit margins. "This is happening when the BJP in its election manifesto had promised to double the income of farmers," he reminded the audience.
He tasked party cadres with reaching out to the farming community to explain the Samajwadi Party's plans for the agriculture sector. Yadav stated that a similar approach must be adopted to address the concerns of jobless youth and women, positioning the SP as the alternative focused on these core issues.
In his concluding remarks, Akhilesh Yadav expressed a hope for objectivity, stating, "I hope the ECI, the mapping app, and the companies which are assisting the ECI with technology—all of them will remain objective and fair in their actions." However, his overarching message was one of skepticism and a call to action for his party to combat what he perceives as systemic manipulation.
