Lucknow, May 6 (PTI) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that “a multi-layer election mafia” is active in various elections in Uttar Pradesh and across the country, with this model of the ruling BJP having gripped the “entire democratic system”.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s state headquarters, Yadav levelled serious allegations against the BJP and the Election Commission, accusing them of colluding to rig various elections and bypolls. He said a “multi-layer election mafia” is operating in the country.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) chief claimed that “unregistered, underground Sangh affiliates are still engaged in espionage and informant activities”. He said that during elections, such unregistered affiliates conduct surveillance at every booth level.
“These people operate under the guise of various institutions and, in the form of organisations or councils related to religion, judiciary, universities, culture, language and values, are hollowing out the country like termites for their own interests. Their links extend abroad, which is why these so-called proponents of ‘swadeshi’ are often seen travelling abroad,” he said.
He further claimed that there are “undercover” officers aligned with a particular ideology, and that details of their WhatsApp groups — containing their names and evidence of alleged “conspiracies” against the country and democracy — will be exposed.
Yadav also alleged that some profit-seeking wealthy businessmen are supporting this system, adding that rising inflation is partly due to such individuals aligning with the government to protect their interests and corruption. He said certain “favoured” contractors are also involved, and together they are functioning like an election mafia, forming a “democratic crime gang”.
The SP chief alleged irregularities in the party’s narrow defeats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in Chhibramau, Madiyahu and Shahganj, as well as in subsequent bypolls in Kundarki, Rampur and Milkipur. He said the party lodged several complaints with the Election Commission over this alleged “vote robbery”, but no action was taken. To support his claims, Yadav displayed bundles of complaint letters sent to the Election Commission. He said the SP had identified 18,000 cases related to alleged “vote theft” by the BJP, but the Commission did not act on any of them.
He further alleged that an official found guilty of corruption was offered relief on the condition that he would “snatch” the Milkipur election from the SP.
Accusing authorities of systematic manipulation during elections, Yadav said, “Now, it is not vote counting but ‘mind counting’ that takes place, with full strategic preparation. People’s perceptions are shaped in advance, and pressure is created beforehand about what the result will be.” Without naming individuals, he also said some people are exploiting circumstances to get work done, forgetting that PDA (backward classes, Dalits and minorities) exist not only in Uttar Pradesh but across the country. He added that people nationwide are gradually becoming aware, and warned that “the 5 per cent may one day be exposed by the 95 per cent”.
