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UP civic body polls: 1st phase underway amid reports of faulty EVMs, political clashes

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UP civic body polls: 1st phase underway amid reports of faulty EVMs, political clashes

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath declares BJP will win all 230 civic bodies that will go to polls in three phases, Samajwadi Party alleges EVM tampering

Amid rumours of large scale EVM tampering, reports of faulty voting machines and political clashes largely between supporters of the BJP and Samajwadi Party, the first phase of Uttar Pradesh’s 230 civic bodies began on Wednesday.

While polling for civic bodies in 24 districts of the country’s most populous state took place on Wednesday, votes will be cast for local bodies in 25 districts on November 26 and for the remaining 26 districts on November 29. Results for the civic body elections will be declared on December 1.

The civic polls across Uttar Pradesh are being viewed as the first pan-state popularity test of the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP since it stormed to power in the state with an absolute majority earlier this year. That the stakes are high for Adityanath and the saffron combine can be gauged from the fact that the chief minister has been personally campaigning for his party’s local body candidates across the state even though the result of the election will have no bearing on the stability of his government.

On Wednesday, districts that went to polls were Shamli, Meerut, Hapur, Bijnore, Badaun, Hathras, Kasganj, Agra, Kanpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Unnao, Hardoi, Amethi, Faizabad, Gonda, Basti, Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Sonebhadra and Adityanath’s home district and political bastion of Gorakhpur.

After casting his vote in Gorakhpur soon after polling commenced, Adityanath declared: “BJP will get massive victory in these elections… The BJP candidates will win on all seats.”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]While Adityanath then left for Varanasi and Allahabad to campaign for the remaining phases of the elections, reports soon began to emerge from across the districts that witnessed polling on Wednesdayof faulty electronic voting machines being used in the poll-process. At polling booths in districts like Agra, Kanpur, Unnao. Shahjahanpur, etc. several voters complained that the votes being cast by them were being polled in favour of the BJP irrespective of whichever party’s candidate they were voting for.

Large scale incidents of the voting process being delayed on account of EVMs not functioning were also reported from across Uttar Pradesh.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Interestingly, controversial BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj – known best for his hate-speeches against Muslims – was left fuming in Unnao after he found that his name was missing from the voter list at the polling booth in Gadankheda block of the district, forcing him to return without exercising his franchise.

Alleging that the absence of his name from the voter list was a “conspiracy”, Sakshi Maharaj told reporters in Unnao: “The district magistrate (DM) is new but the additional district magistrate (ADM), who is also looking after the election process, was posted under the previous (Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party) government…  it is not a mere lapse that the name of the sitting member of parliament is missing from the list… it indicates some conspiracy.”

But Sakshi Maharaj wasn’t the only high-profile politician who found his name missing from the voter rolls. His predecessor, former Unnao MP Annu Tandon too faced the same fate and was forced to lodge a complaint with the district administration.

Meanwhile, in Meerut district three people were detained for trying to forcibly enter a polling booth. There was also a ruckus at ward number 89 in Meerut after voters alleged that EVMs were registering votes only in favour of the BJP. However, additional State Election Commissioner Ved Prakash Verma refuted these allegations.

Police had to resort to lathicharge as result of chaos in Meerut’s Summer Garden ward that was caused by a spat between BJP and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, as Adityanath reached the state’s Balia district to address an election rally, controversy erupted as a woman seated in the audience was asked to unveil her burqa by security personnel present at the rally. Despite video footage clearly showing the incident, local police authorities denied the occurrence of the such incident and claimed that while there were no orders to the police to ask Muslim women to remove their burqa during Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s rally, directives had indeed been given to ensure that no ‘black cloth’ is waved at the chief minister by the public.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Congress, SP send mixed signals on AIMIM’s role ahead of 2027 Uttar Pradesh polls

Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders have responded differently to questions about AIMIM’s role ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, highlighting ongoing discussions over opposition strategy.

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Differing responses from Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders have highlighted varying approaches within the Opposition camp regarding the possible role of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in the run-up to the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

The discussion gained momentum after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi launched his party’s campaign preparations for the 2027 elections from Bahraich and reiterated that his party is open to alliances, provided it is treated with respect and as an equal partner.

Different responses from Congress and SP

Reacting to questions about a possible understanding with AIMIM, Congress leader Imran Masood said any decision on alliances would be taken by the party leadership. He also stressed that there could be no compromise with communalism.

On the other hand, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav adopted a more accommodating tone, stating that anyone capable of defeating the BJP would be welcome. His remarks were viewed as leaving the door open to broader anti-BJP political cooperation.

The differing responses have drawn attention as Opposition parties continue to assess their electoral strategies ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

AIMIM steps up preparations

AIMIM has begun expanding its campaign activity in Uttar Pradesh, with Owaisi launching the party’s preparations from Bahraich. The Hyderabad MP has indicated that AIMIM is willing to consider alliances but has maintained that any partnership must be based on mutual respect and equality.

The party is also working to strengthen its organisational presence in the state as it seeks a larger role in Uttar Pradesh politics ahead of the next Assembly election.

No formal alliance announced

Despite the ongoing discussion, no formal alliance or seat-sharing arrangement involving AIMIM and major Opposition parties has been announced so far.

With more than a year remaining before the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, political equations are expected to evolve as parties finalise their strategies and alliance plans.

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