BJP’s Strong Criticism of Akhilesh Yadav: The BJP strongly condemned Akhilesh Yadav's remarks declaring the Election Commission "dead" and accusing the Opposition of repeatedly undermining constitutional institutions after electoral defeats. Sambit Patra, BJP MP, expressed outrage over Yadav's statement, calling it an unprecedented attack on the Election Commission, which is a constitutional institution crucial to the functioning of democracy. Patra stated that the Samajwadi Party’s actions—specifically presenting a funeral shroud for the Election Commission during the Parliamentary session—were a blatant violation of parliamentary decorum. The BJP demanded an apology from Yadav and the Samajwadi Party for their actions, claiming that such behavior was harmful to the fabric of democratic institutions.
 

Akhilesh Yadav’s Allegations: Akhilesh Yadav had earlier made allegations against the BJP, accusing them of indulging in electoral misconduct and using the Election Commission as a tool to manipulate the electoral process. He stated that, in his opinion, the Election Commission was "dead," implying that the institution had failed to ensure free and fair elections. Yadav further added that the BJP had a notorious practice of fighting elections in an unfair manner, and he suggested that it was time to "gift them white cloth," a gesture symbolic of the institution’s inability to perform its duties properly. Yadav’s comments were part of his broader criticism of the BJP, which he accused of indulging in corrupt electoral practices.
 

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal’s Statement: Praveen Khandelwal, another BJP MP, criticized the Opposition parties for regularly attacking constitutional institutions after facing electoral setbacks. Khandelwal argued that this was not the first time such a situation had occurred, as the Opposition, whenever losing elections, tends to undermine the legitimacy and credibility of institutions like the Election Commission. Khandelwal further stated that Yadav’s comments were disrespectful and ill-advised, as they could damage the image and functioning of democratic institutions. He called for a strong condemnation of Yadav's statement and highlighted that political parties should maintain respect for constitutional bodies.
 

Samajwadi Party’s Allegations Regarding Milkipur: Yadav’s accusations were sparked by an incident in Milkipur, Ayodhya, where he claimed that the police were checking voters' identity cards. He alleged that this action was intended to influence voting and intimidate voters, particularly targeting the booth agents and creating fear in the electoral process. Yadav went on to demand that the Election Commission immediately take action against the officers involved in the incident. He referred to the alleged police activity as a "democratic crime" and called for strict measures to ensure that such practices were not allowed to continue. His comments raised concerns about the fairness of the ongoing elections in the region.
 

Ayodhya Police Response: In response to Akhilesh Yadav’s claims, the Ayodhya Police issued a statement clarifying that the police were not checking voters’ ID cards as alleged. Instead, they explained that the identity cards being verified were those of booth agents and not of voters. The police emphasized that the booth agents, who are responsible for assisting with the election process, were being checked as part of routine election security measures. They accused Yadav of spreading misinformation and misleading the public with his allegations. The police requested that Yadav retract his statements and avoid making false claims that could disrupt the electoral process.
 

The BJP’s Stance: The BJP continued to express strong displeasure over the Opposition’s criticism of constitutional institutions. They called for clarity from other opposition leaders regarding their stance on the issue, insisting that they should support the Election Commission and refrain from undermining its credibility. The BJP also emphasized that institutions like the Election Commission should be respected regardless of political disagreements. Further, BJP MPs including Sambit Patra and Praveen Khandelwal asserted that Akhilesh Yadav’s statement was not only an attack on the Election Commission but also a dangerous precedent for undermining democratic institutions. The BJP also demanded a public apology from Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party for their remarks, calling it an irresponsible and harmful act against the nation’s democratic processes.