‘BJP hiding behind institutions’: Akhilesh accuses Center of using Election Commission in Uttar Pradesh polls; final SIR list released

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday accused bjp Using the Election Commission during by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, said the party would use the Election Commission when it starts losing on real issues.“The Election Commission works on the behest of the BJP. In all by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission works on the behest of the BJP. When the BJP starts losing on practical issues, it hides behind institutions and attacks,” he said during a visit to Rajasthan.

The number of voters in Uttar Pradesh increased by more than 8.4 million in a particularly intensively revised final electoral list released on Friday. Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said the final electoral list now has 133.9 million voters, up from the 125.5 million voters in the draft list released in January.Linwa said the process involved hearings and verification, stressing that no voter’s name would be removed without due process. “If names from the draft roster are missing from the final list, this is either due to the Form-6 application or a decision taken by the ERO after due hearing,” he said.Political parties were involved in the entire process, he added. A total of 107 complaints were received from various parties, mostly from the Samajwadi Party, and all complaints were resolved.Rinwa also said those dissatisfied with the final list can appeal to a magistrate within 15 days and further contact the chief electoral officer if needed.