Agra MLC Election: SP candidates allege booth capturing and misuse of power

Tensions escalated during the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (MLC) elections in Agra, with members of the Samajwadi Party (SP) accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and administrative officials of electoral malpractice.

Shabbir Abbas, the SP Agra Metropolitan President, alleged that the BJP misused government machinery to influence the election. He reported instances of voter intimidation, attempts at booth capturing, and fraudulent voting at several locations, including Nagar Mahapalika Inter College, Tajganj, and राजकीय Inter College, Panchkuia. Abbas has called for an impartial investigation by the Election Commission, including a review of CCTV footage.

Dr. Akash Agarwal, an SP candidate for the Agra teacher constituency, expressed extreme distress, alleging that his election officials from 12 districts were detained and mistreated by the administration. Agarwal claimed the harassment made him feel like a terrorist and expressed deep disillusionment, stating that the actions of those claiming to be protectors of his faith had driven him to consider religious conversion.