Oppn accuses BJP of poll malpracices in UP

Political observers too feel there is some truth in such allegations as Chief Minister Kalyan Singh had sanctioned funds worth over Rs 250 crore to local bodies on election eve.

The Election Commission’s (EC) decision to defer the polls by about two weeks, in fact, gave the much-needed publicity to the Government’s decision to release funds.

The EC, however, did not pay any heed to complaints that the BJP Government had nominated five to 10 members in each of the local bodies last month, thus tilting the balance in its favour.

"We have lost about 10 seats by a difference of only 150-200 votes. The Kalyan Singh Government nominated many more members in local bodies, thus snatching victory from our candidates," said a State Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesman today.

Kalyan Singh, on the other hand, justified nominating members to local bodies as the right of the Government as enshrined in the 73rd amendment to the Constitution.

"We could not do so earlier because we really came to power in last week of October," he said referring to the controversial Vote of Confidence won by his Government on October 21.

The BJP, however, highlights the fact that the voters in these elections comprising panchayat members and urban local bodies members, had been elected during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s regime in 1995 and should have given the SP an added advantage.

"Our success cuts across all castes as we have won despite 67 per cent reservation to various castes in these elections," says State BJP President Raj Nath Singh referring to 27 per cent OBC quota, 21 per cent SC and 2 per cent ST quota.

Singh claims that the Council poll verdict was a positive mandate for the BJP despite a negative campaign by anti-BJP forces.

"Results show that Congress was off, SP half and BSP saaf (wiped out)," Singh says, borrowing a similar caste-based phrase coined by BSP supporters.