LUCKNOW: In his first reaction to Samajwadi Party's defeat in its strongholds of Azamgarh and Rampur where Lok Sabha bypoll results were announced on Sunday, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said it was an outcome of blatant misuse of government machinery to influence voters and win elections by hook or by crook.
"Samajwadi Party put up a strong fight in the bypolls in Azamgarh and Rampur. Voters were inclined to ensure SP's victory but the ruling BJP misused power to win elections by hook or by crook. In its desperation to force desired results in the bypolls, the BJP stooped to the lowest level of tactics," Akhilesh said on Sunday .
BJP win outcome of 'blatant misuse of power': Akhilesh
In his first reaction to Samajwadi Party's defeat in its strongholds of Azamgarh and Rampur in Lok Sabha bypoll, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said it was an outcome of misuse of government machinery to influence voters and win elections by hook or by crook.
"SP put up a tough fight in the bypolls in Azamgarh and Rampur. Voters were inclined to ensure SP's victory but the BJP misused power to win elections. In its desperation to force desired results in the bypolls, the BJP stooped to the lowest level of tactics like detaining party workers at police stations and stopping bonafide voters from exercising their right to franchise," Akhilesh said on Sunday evening.
Akhilesh said in Rampur only six votes were polled in a Muslim-dominated locality which had 900 votes. "Similarly in another locality, only one vote was polled from a pocket which had 500 votes. If this is not the mockery of a democratic exercise like elections then what is," he said.
"Blatant misuse of power to shatter democratic principles coupled with an election commission that remained blindfolded like Dhritrashtra, and the BJP, like the Kauravas, hijacked people's mandate," he said drawing parallels with the 'Mahabharat'.
"It was not an election but making a mockery of democracy and people's mandate," he said. The former CM said that under present circumstances, BJP's victory celebration was like cocking a snook at the people's will.
In Azamgarh, party candidate Dharmendra Yadav said, "We should not be demoralized by the results as the party seniors have hope in the youngsters. I apologise to all senior leaders for not being able to keep up with their expectations. I thank those who voted for SP for reposing their faith in the party,."
SP veteran Azam Khansaid Asim Raja's victory was changed to defeat. "You cannot call this an election. Only six votes were polled at a polling station which has 900 voters," he said.
