Uttar Pradesh / Malihabad : Clashes between SP-BJP workers in Malihabad block over snatching of nomination papers

SP and BJP workers came face to face during the nomination process for the post of block chief, which started at 11 am on Thursday. Before the administration could understand anything, a scuffle broke out between both the parties and the workers of both the parties started shouting slogans accusing each other of snatching the papers. The high officials, who reached the information, understood the actions of both the parties and pacified them. After which the candidates filed their nomination papers. At 12 o’clock in the morning, BJP candidate Nirmal Kumar was filing nomination papers along with his supporters including District President Shri Krishna Lodhi Mandal President Jitendra Awasthi. Then SP candidate Vidyavati along with supporters reached to file nomination. During this, supporters of both the parties clashed with each other while raising slogans and started accusing them of snatching the papers. Vikas Kishor, vice-president of BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha Awadh region, alleged that the administration allowed only the proposer and approval along with the BJP candidate to enter. While along with the SP candidate, along with the proposer’s approval, SP leader Virendra also allowed other SPs who snatched a set of nomination papers from the BJP candidate. The same SP supporter Indal Rawat alleged that in the presence of the administration, BJP workers prevented the SP candidate from filing nomination and snatched a set of nomination papers. The round of allegations and counter-allegations by both the candidates lasted for about an hour. After which the ADM Administration and SP Rural Hridayesh Kumar and CO Yogendra Singh, CO Naimul Hasan, who reached the spot, pacified everyone after explaining and pacifying them, after which the nomination process was completed. Assistant Returning Officer Suryakant Tripathi said that in the scrutiny of nomination papers that started after the nomination process, the nomination papers of both the candidates were found to be correct, both the candidates filed their nomination papers in 2 sets each. After thermal screening and sanitization of the candidates, entry was made in the block premises, along with barricading, shade, water etc. were arranged for security.