Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sharply criticized the Election Commission, dubbing it a "jugaad commission" for its failure to address 17,986 affidavits submitted by his party alleging widespread voter fraud. In a scathing post on X, Yadav questioned the poll body's efficiency, pointing out that while it claims to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect a Rs 1.25 crore scam involving duplicate voters in panchayat elections, it has responded to only 14 of the 18,000 affidavits submitted by the SP.

Yadav highlighted a news report claiming that over 1.25 crore voters were removed from electoral rolls ahead of panchayat elections, with AI identifying duplicate entries in villages. He accused the Election Commission, along with the BJP and district magistrates, of ignoring the SP’s allegations of "vote robbery," which the party detailed in its affidavits. Last month, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had dismissed opposition claims of electoral irregularities, including "vote theft," during a press conference, further fueling Yadav’s ire.

In a separate X post, Yadav also accused the BJP of politicizing universities, alleging that their "saffronisation" has led to biased administration, negatively impacting students’ education and lives. He urged for the BJP’s ouster to restore quality education, stating, "BJP jaaye to Shiksha aaye" (Let BJP go, and let education thrive).

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The SP’s allegations and Yadav’s outspoken criticism underscore growing tensions in Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape, with the opposition intensifying its scrutiny of electoral processes and governance ahead of upcoming elections. The Election Commission’s lack of response to the affidavits remains a flashpoint, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the state’s electoral system.

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