55.24% turnout as 11 UP MLC seats go to polls amid scuffles, allegations of rigging

Uttar Pradesh held elections for 11 Members of the Legislative Council (MLC) seats on Friday, with a voter turnout of 55.24 percent. The polling took place between 8 am and 4 pm, though police and administration faced challenges due to scuffles and protests at some locations.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and its chief alleged the use of government machinery and malpractices to favor their candidates. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders accused the SP of fielding ineligible candidates and misusing voting procedures. The Election Commission reported the highest voting percentage of 79.01 percent in the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Graduate constituency and the lowest of 38.02 percent in the Lucknow Teachers constituency.

SP candidates from Agra-Graduates, Teachers, Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers, Allahabad-Jhansi Teachers, and Bareilly-Moradabad Teachers constituencies alleged booth capturing, voter influence, and intimidation by BJP goons and administration. SP leaders claimed that only those with BJP identification were permitted to vote, while BJP voters were not subjected to the same scrutiny.

SP President Akhilesh Yadav stated that BJP workers engaged in fake voting and malpractices, and warned that the party would face defeat in upcoming Assembly elections.

The BJP accused the SP of resorting to hooliganism and fake voting in the current election. Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Election Commission for allegedly turning a blind eye to the malpractices. Yadav urged the BJP to open a university for vote theft and offered a three-year course for its workers. He questioned the BJP's lack of work for teachers and young people during their previous 10 years in power.

With only 40 days left until the Assembly elections, the SP and the INDIA alliance vowed to defeat the BJP.