Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has raised serious concerns over alleged electoral malpractices in the Milkipur by-election, claiming that votes were cast in the names of deceased and migrated individuals. His remarks come amid growing political tension over the results of the crucial by-poll.

Speaking on the issue, Yadav said, "The people who have died or have migrated from the constituency, votes were cast in their name also. Will officers be deployed on the basis of their caste? They can do all this in one constituency but not in 403 constituencies."

The SP leader further asserted that his party would be "even better prepared" for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, hinting at a more robust strategy to counter alleged irregularities in future polls.

#WATCH | Lucknow: On Milkipur by-election results, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "... The people who have died or have migrated from the constituency, votes were cast in their name also... Will officers be deployed on the basis of their caste? They can do all this in… pic.twitter.com/dzBPgEKRFF

— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2025

The Milkipur by-election had been closely watched as a test of political strength in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 state elections. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory, the Samajwadi Party has strongly contested the legitimacy of the results.

Yadav's allegations add to the ongoing debate over electoral transparency in India, with opposition parties frequently accusing the ruling dispensation of manipulating administrative machinery to their advantage.