A dramatic incident unfolded in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday when advocate Awadhesh Singh, president of the local Bar Association, slapped BJP MLA Yogesh Verma. The altercation, captured on video and widely circulated online, sparked a violent response from Verma’s supporters, who retaliated against Singh, leading to a physical confrontation that required police intervention to restore order.
This incident has heightened tensions just days before the scheduled Urban Cooperative Bank management committee elections. Controversy surrounding the elections has been brewing, particularly following a letter from district BJP president Sunil Singh and MLA Yogesh Verma requesting a postponement of the electoral process. However, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Sanjay Singh has confirmed that the elections will proceed as planned.
Allegations have also emerged regarding tampering with the voter list, with some members claiming that individuals tore the list. The elections are set to take place on October 14, with approximately 12,000 shareholders eligible to vote. The nomination process began on Wednesday, with the deadline for withdrawal of nominations set for October 10. The final voter list is expected to be released on October 11, along with the allocation of election symbols.
Despite the escalating tensions and accusations of fraud from MLA Yogesh Verma regarding the election process, ADM Sanjay Singh has assured that the elections will be conducted fairly and on schedule.