Raising concerns about the fairness of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court of India to immediately take note of the electoral process and ensure that video recordings of vote counting are made publicly accessible.
Addressing a press conference, the Samajwadi Party chief questioned why transparency measures similar to live-streamed court proceedings could not be applied to elections. “When court hearings are being broadcast live, why can’t vote counting be shown in real time?” he asked. He also raised concerns about the lack of live CCTV coverage during counting, questioning the reluctance to make such footage available. Yadav reiterated his demand that the Supreme Court step in and direct that counting videos from the West Bengal polls be shared with the public.
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Pointing to alleged irregularities, Yadav referred to certain elections and bypolls in Uttar Pradesh in recent years, claiming that discrepancies had occurred during the counting process. Drawing parallels, he warned that similar issues witnessed in West Bengal could be repeated on a larger scale in Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly elections are scheduled for 2027.
“What has happened in Bengal could be replicated on a much bigger level in Uttar Pradesh,” he alleged. He further claimed that a “multi-layered election mafia” could operate more strategically in the upcoming polls, conducting deeper planning and coordination.
“These people have done what they did in West Bengal, influencing the elections and shaping the atmosphere. Now they have been exposed,” Yadav added.
His remarks came after the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a decisive victory in West Bengal, defeating the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. During the elections, Yadav had extended his support to Banerjee and her party.
When asked whether he planned to meet Banerjee, Yadav confirmed that he intended to visit the state. “I will go to West Bengal,” he said.
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