SP will never accept that people rejected their hooliganism: UP Law Minister on Akhilesh Yadav's EVM allegations

Mar 08, 2022

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 8 : Following Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's allegations of electronic voting machines being manipulated, Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday said Opposition parties will never accept that people have rejected their hooliganism.
Speaking to ANI, Pathak said, "Samajwadi Party and all the opposition parties will never accept the manner in which they have fought elections involving mafias and hooliganism. People of the state rejected their hooliganism. Bharatiya Janata Party is forming the government with a thumping majority."
"Exit poll results are showing 250 -240 seats for BJP now. But when counting starts, we will go beyond 300. We will return to power again with a thumping majority like the margin we had in 2017," he added.
Ahead of the counting of votes for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on Thursday, Akhilesh Yadav alleged "tampering with electronic voting machines" saying BJP was scared as his party was winning Ayodhya. He urged the Election Commission to look into the issue.
"Samajwadi Party is winning Ayodhya that is why BJP is scared. Election Commission officials tampering with EVMs," he claimed at a press conference here.
He also alleged that EVMs had been transported in Varanasi without information to local candidates.
"Exit polls want to create a perception that BJP is winning. This is the last fight for democracy. EVM is being transported without being informed to candidates. We need to be alert if EVMs are being transported this way. This is theft. We need to save our votes. We may go to court against it but before that, I want to appeal to people to save the democracy," he said.
The SP chief also made similar allegations in a tweet.
"The reports of EVM being caught (transported) in Varanasi is a message to be alert in every constituency. To deal with any attempt of cheating during the counting of votes, the candidates of the Samajwadi Party and its allies should stay ready with their cameras. The youth should become soldiers during counting for the sake of democracy and their future," he said.
The voting for the seventh and last phase of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh was held on Monday.
The exit polls have predicted BJP getting a comfortable majority in the state. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.