"BJP knew that if unemployed voted, they wouldn't vote for them": SP leader on UP by-polls date changed

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 18 (ANI): Samajwadi Party leader Fakhrul Hasan Chand on Monday alleged that the dates for Uttar Pradesh by-polls were shifted so that the people of the state working in other places who came to their homes on Diwali and Chatth Puja couldn't vote.
Speaking to ANI, Fakhrul Hasan Chand also exuded confidence in winning the Uttar Pradesh by-polls along with Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
"The unemployed people of Uttar Pradesh, who work in other states, had the opportunity to return home for Diwali and Chhath Puja and cast their votes. But the BJP knew that if the unemployed voted, they would not vote for them. That's why this election was extended from November 13 to 20. However, the BJP is set to lose all nine seats," he said.
Further, the Samajwadi Party leader emphasized that they are ready to defeat the BJP.
"The PDA (Pichda, Dalit and Minority) is not just prepared in Uttar Pradesh but also in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The Samajwadi Party is confident that when the results are announced on the 23rd, the BJP will be wiped out in all three places," he said.
Notably, the Election Commission has postponed by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Punjab to November 20 from November 13.
EC's decision to postpone by-polls comes after requests from national and state parties, including INC, BJP, BSP, and RLD, to avoid low voter turnout. National and state parties had requested the EC to shift the dates in these states due to various festivities.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said that the voice of the Lucknow engine (UP government) has changed as the Uttar Pradesh bypolls are approaching.
"The voice of the Lucknow engine (UP government) has changed as the elections (UP Bypolls) approach. Are they talking about any development? They say that Samajwadi people are mafia and goons...But the truth is that when the Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) leaves his house, he does not look in the mirror," said Akhilesh Yadav while addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Katehari Vidhan Sabha.
According to the EC order, the Assembly constituencies, where the polling has been postponed to November 20, include Palakkad in Kerala; Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Gidderbaha, Barnala in Punjab; and Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karhal, Sishamau, Phulpur, Katehari and Majhawan in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)