The seat is a crucial battleground for both the SP and BJP, with its outcome likely to influence the political dynamics of Moradabad
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Voting for the Kundarki assembly seat by-election in Moradabad took a contentious turn on Wednesday as Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Haji Rizwan accused the district administration and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of voter suppression in Muslim-majority areas. Rizwan alleged that voters were being prevented from casting their ballots and claimed irregularities in the voting process.
Speaking to the media, Haji Rizwan said, “Voters in Muslim areas are being stopped at booths and not allowed to vote using regular slips. Instead, a special type of slip is being demanded. This is a deliberate attempt to suppress the Muslim vote.” He further accused the district administration of siding with the BJP, alleging, “I am not contesting against the BJP candidate; I am fighting against the district administration. They have occupied all the booths in the Kundarki assembly area, making this election a complete farce.”
BJP candidate Thakur Ramveer Singh strongly denied the claims. “These allegations are baseless and stem from the SP’s fear of defeat. Haji Rizwan knows he is losing, and that is why he is resorting to such statements,” he said.
Singh also pointed to Rizwan’s previous tenure as an MLA, saying, “When Haji Rizwan was in power, numerous cases were registered against Muslims. Today, the same community is rejecting him, and he is panicking because of his impending defeat.”
Moradabad District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Singh addressed the allegations, asserting that voting was proceeding peacefully across the constituency. “I am in constant touch with the presiding officers at all polling booths. There is no disturbance, and the process is being conducted in a fair and orderly manner,” he said.
The district administration’s assurances come amid heightened tensions in Kundarki, where allegations of voter suppression could impact the perception of the election’s fairness.
Several voters from the affected areas echoed Haji Rizwan’s concerns. A resident from one of the polling booths said, “We were asked to provide slips that were not issued to us. This has caused confusion and delays in the voting process.”
However, other polling stations reported smooth voting, with high voter turnout in some areas. A presiding officer at a booth stated, “We are ensuring that every eligible voter can cast a vote. The claims of irregularities are unfounded based on our observations.”
The Kundarki seat is a crucial battleground for both the SP and BJP, with its outcome likely to influence the political dynamics of Moradabad. The SP is banking on Muslim voters, while the BJP is aiming to consolidate its base in the region.
Observers note that allegations of voter suppression, if proven true, could have a significant impact on the credibility of the election. However, with the administration maintaining that the process is fair, both parties are expected to rely on the final voter turnout to gauge their standing.