New Delhi: On Friday, a case was registered under the Epidemic Act for violating the model code of conduct and COVID-19 protocol as a huge crowd at the Samajwadi Party headquarters in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow.
Before the assembly elections, a huge crowd gathered during the induction of several leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya, in the Samajwadi Party.
Union Minority Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi attacked the Samajwadi Party for “breaking protocol for political goals”.
“Will you be breaking protocol for your political goals? They (SP) are corrupt, dishonest and even the new couple do not follow any rules. They consider themselves above the law,” Naqvi said.
“Let them smile now… will see a ‘mountain of tears’ after the election results,” he said, reported ANI.
The Election Commission has announced a number of precautionary and proactive measures for the five polling states, including a complete ban on physical rallies and road shows till January 15, in view of the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Earlier in the day, Maurya joined the Samajwadi Party along with another rebel minister Dharam Singh Saini.
Five BJP MLAs, including Bhagwati Sagar (Bilhaur in Kanpur), Roshanlal Verma (Tilhar in Shahjahanpur), Vinay Shakya (Bidhuna in Auraiya), Brijesh Prajapati (Tindwari in Bahraich) and Mukesh Verma (Shikohabad in Firozabad), also joined the Samajwadi Party during the virtual rally.
Apna Dal (Sonelal) legislator Amar Singh Chaudhary too joined the Samajwadi Party.
Voting for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
,