Date:12/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/12/stories/2007051205491200.htm

National

Mulayam puts blame on poll panel

Special Correspondent

"Measures taken by it deterred voters "

LUCKNOW: The outgoing Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party president, Mulayam Singh, on Friday accused the Election Commission of plotting his party's defeat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The SP emerged as the second largest party, after the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The measures adopted by the Commission deterred Samajwadi voters from casting their votes, Mr. Singh told reporters after submitting his resignation to Governor T.V. Rajeswar. Many names were missing from the voters' list, as a result of which the SP supporters could not exercise their franchise. The damage inflicted on his party by the Commission caused huge losses to him. The poll panel's role was not a happy sign for democracy, he said.

He appealed to other parties to arrive at a consensus for curbing the Commission's influence. A strategy would have to be formulated.

Reflecting on his party's loss, Mr. Singh said that henceforth it would be the SP versus the BSP as the BJP and the Congress had been virtually sidelined.

On his future strategy, he said he would go to the people and initiate measures to strengthen the party organisation.

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