Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the electorate has taken up the cudgels for defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party in the bypolls to 10 seats of Uttar Pradesh assembly.

“Whatever administrative drama the BJP may do by transferring officials, nothing can prevent the defeat of the BJP in the bypolls as the people have come out in the field to defeat the BJP even in the by-elections,” Akhilesh Yadav said in a post on X on Wednesday.

“It remains to be seen who will vouch for the impartiality of the officers who will replace them. The BJP should not look for excuses to escape the humiliation of its 10/10 defeat in the by-elections. Had the BJP not been anti-people, we would not have to see these days,” SP chief said and added, “People want to know when and whom will the BJP depute to fight issues like inflation, unemployment, women’s safety, protection of the Constitution and reservation, and Nazul land?” he said.

Urging the Election Commission of India to take cognisance of the reshuffle in administration, Akhilesh Yadav said, “By transferring the officials, the ruling party has conceded the fact that it intends to manipulate the elections through government officials.”

Akhilesh Yadav also accused the BJP of influencing the electoral process and asked his party workers to be vigilant against it in the upcoming by-elections and the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in 2027.

The SP chief alleged that the thinking in the BJP was that it had the right to destroy the democratic system.

“It also works to influence the election process. The BJP wants to weaken democracy. There is a need to be vigilant and cautious against these conspiracies of the BJP. The intentions of the BJP are not right,” he added.

Akhilesh Yadav said the SP had defeated the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections and was ready to wipe it out in the by-elections and the 2027 UP assembly elections.

The SP had got 37 out of 80 seats in the Lok Sabha polls held this year while its ally Congress got six seats.

Yadav said the SP was running a voter awareness campaign so that the BJP does not succeed in any conspiracy.

“The people and all the voters should take care that BJP does not succeed in its nefarious attempt to win the election by making any manipulation in the voters’ list,” he said.

By-elections in the state are scheduled to be held for 10 assembly seats later this year.