SP demands fresh panchayat elections

LUCKNOW: Alleging irregularities by the BSP government in panchayat elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has asked the governor B L Joshi to order fresh polls in the state.
A delegation of SP leaders, including national general secretary Ashok Bajpai, Opposition leaders in the state assembly Shivpal Singh Yadav and Ahmad Hasan met the governor and submitted a memorandum in this regard.
The delegation demanded cancellation of the poll process and sought fresh panchayat elections alleging that the BSP, in the name of unopposed elections, looted posts of district chairmen.
Those members of district panchayats who voted against the BSP candidates in polls are being implicated in false cases, the memorandum alleged.
Shivpal Singh Yadav said, "Over Rs 1,000 crore meant for the development was misused in the polls. The money was used for horse trading. We have come to lodge a complaint with the governor in this regard," Yadav alleged.
The party further alleged that barring a few districts, most of the district magistrates and SPs acted as agents of the BSP. Therefore, an inquiry should be conducted against them.