National
Muscle power dominates U.P. poll campaign
By Our Special Correspondent
LUCKNOW, JAN. 28. Uttar Pradesh appears all set to face an election campaign full of tension and unease with contestants using crude muscle power to browbeat their rivals. And the entry of candidates of doubtful antecedents into the election arena makes the scene murkier.
A series of clashes already taken place at various places among supporters of rival groups while the campaigning is still to go full swing. There were cross-FIRs registered by warring groups at various places including the districts of Hardoi, Rae Bareli and Etawah where firearms were used in the clashes.
Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party MP and son of the party leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav, was allegedly attacked by supporters of the BJP candidate, Ajay Yadav, at Behva village in the Bharthana Assembly constituency of Etwah district on Sunday. Six persons were injured as supporters of the two parties indulged in stone-throwing and some of the vehicles used in campaigning were damaged.
Samajwadi Party workers alleged that the security guard of the BJP nominee had opened fire on Akhilesh Yadav and he had escaped unhurt just by chance. The clash had taken place while an election meeting of the Samajwadi Party was being addressed by Akhilesh Yadav. Pradeep Yadav, meanwhile, reached the spot and his works tried to disturb the meeting. This was followed by retaliation by Samajwadi Party workers and an open clash between the two groups.
A police team rushed from Etawah later brought the situation under control. Akhilesh Yadav has filed a complaint against the BJP leaders under various sections of the Indian Penal Code at the Bidhuna police station under which jurisdiction the incident occurred.
Clashes had earlier taken place between supporters of the BJP and the Samajwadi Party at Hardoi when processions accompanying candidates of the two parties came face to face while on their way to file nomination papers. BJP workers alleged that the former Uttar Pradesh Minister, Naresh Agarwal, had attacked the BJP procession in this case. Mr. Agarwal was detained in the police station for the night and was allowed to go in the morning.
In Rae Bareli, supporters of the Congress MLA, Akhilesh Singh, and the Lokjan Shakti Party nominee, Arvind Singh, also allegedly exchanged fire in another clash. Six persons were injured from the two sides in the fight. Two persons were later arrested from the side of the Lok Jana Shakti Party. Akhilesh Singh is reported to have absconded after the incident.
Meanwhile, reports received here said more than 50 candidates having a criminal background had been nominated by various political parties to contest the elections. They belonged to all political hues and most of them had been members of the Assembly in the past. Their ``winnability'' was stated to be the primary reason for the political parties to select them as contestants.
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