Ensure fair polls in Azamgarh: Amit Shah to EC - Times of India

NEW DELHI: BJP general secretary Amit Shah on Sunday demanded that Election Commission take foolproof measures to ensure free and fair polls in Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghosi and Ghazipur constituencies of UP on Monday.

In a statement, Shah welcomed the steps — deployment of paramilitary forces and provision for videography inside poll booths — taken by EC in Varanasi constituency, but said the poll watchdog had failed to take similar measures despite BJP's repeated demands in the four constituencies of eastern UP.

SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting from Azamgarh where he is facing a stiff challenge from BJP and BSP.

Shah said EC should ensure that voters in the constituencies flagged by him are able to exercise their franchise without fear, adding that a large number of SP leaders and workers were camping in Azamgarh.

"Azamgarh should be cleared of outsiders just as Varanasi was," Shah said.

BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi had earlier attacked EC for failing to prevent booths from being captured in UP and West Bengal.