Election Scuffle: Clash Over Alleged Rule Violations at Cooperative Bank

A clash erupted between BJP MLA Yogesh Verma and lawyer Awadhesh Singh during cooperative bank elections in Lakhimpur Kheri, sparking accusations of election rigging. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticized the incident as detrimental to democracy. The election was postponed due to concerns over law and order.

A tense altercation occurred Wednesday between BJP MLA from Lakhimpur Kheri Sadar, Yogesh Verma, and senior advocate Awadhesh Singh during an urban cooperative bank's election process, according to police reports.

The disagreement reportedly stemmed from accusations of rule violations, leading to physical confrontation between the two parties. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav branded the incident a stain on democratic processes, alleging that election manipulation has become routine for the BJP.

In light of safety concerns, the election was postponed. Additional District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh cited disruptions threatening legal order as the reason. The incident resulted in heightened security measures at the election site to prevent further conflicts.

(With inputs from agencies.)