Akhilesh Yadav alleges rigging in UP MLC elections, cites unfolded ballot papers at booth 97
Synopsis
With counting underway for 11 UP Legislative Council seats, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that unfolded ballot papers were planted in a box at booth 97 in the Lucknow Graduates seat — a charge that, if substantiated, would be a significant poll integrity failure. The Election Commission has not responded, even as re-polling was already ordered in Agra earlier this week.
Key Takeaways
Akhilesh Yadav alleged rigging in the UP MLC elections on 27 October 2026 , claiming unfolded ballots were found at booth number 97 in the Lucknow Graduates constituency .
SP candidate Kanti Singh is contesting the seat at the centre of the allegations.
Yadav accused the BJP of orchestrating vote theft, saying the party 'cannot even carry out vote theft honestly.' The Election Commission had not issued any response to the allegations as of the time of reporting.
Re-polling was already ordered at three polling stations in Agra teachers' constituency on Monday following booth-capturing allegations on 23 October .
Counting covers 11 UP Legislative Council seats ; results expected by late evening .
SP holds 10 seats in the 100-member council and is eyeing gains ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections .
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, alleged large-scale rigging in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (MLC) elections, claiming that unfolded ballot papers were discovered inside a ballot box at booth number 97 in the Lucknow Graduates constituency, where SP candidate Kanti Singh is contesting. Yadav squarely blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of orchestrating a conspiracy to steal votes during counting.
What Akhilesh Yadav Alleged
Speaking to reporters, Yadav charged that the discovery of unfolded ballots was itself proof of foul play. 'Voters are clearly instructed on how to fold the ballot paper, and when the ballot paper is handed to them, it is already folded. They then put it into the ballot box after folding it. But votes were found in the boxes without being folded,' he said. He went further, insinuating that an entire ballot box stuffed with pre-cast votes may have been substituted. 'The BJP cannot even carry out vote theft honestly. They have been caught because how can votes be cast without being folded?' Yadav asked pointedly.
Election Commission's Silence and Prior Irregularities
As of the time of reporting, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had not issued any clarification or response to Yadav's allegations. Notably, the elections have already been clouded by controversy — the Agra teachers' constituency saw re-polling at three polling stations on Monday following allegations of booth capturing during the 23 October original polling date. This is at least the second significant irregularity allegation to emerge from the same round of MLC elections.
What Is at Stake in the 11-Seat MLC Counting
Counting is currently underway for 11 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council seats, with results expected by late evening. Among the outgoing MLCs, six belong to BJP, three to SP, and two are Independents. The BJP is defending its existing tally while attempting to flip SP and Independent-held seats. For the SP, the stakes extend well beyond this count — the party is looking to consolidate its Legislative Council strength ahead of the crucial 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The SP currently holds 10 seats in the 100-member UP Legislative Council.
Political Context and What Comes Next
The MLC elections, which use a preferential ballot system among registered graduates and teachers, have historically been fertile ground for process disputes given their relatively low visibility compared to assembly polls. This latest allegation follows a pattern of pre-poll and poll-day controversies in UP's upper house contests. The ECI's response — or continued silence — will be closely watched as a signal of how seriously the charges are being treated. All eyes are now on the final tally, which will indicate whether the BJP widens its Legislative Council lead or the SP makes inroads ahead of 2027.
Point of View
Suggesting either a genuine procedural breakdown or a pre-emptive narrative play ahead of an unfavourable result. The broader pattern is concerning — UP's MLC elections have repeatedly thrown up booth-capturing and counting irregularities, yet systemic fixes remain elusive. With the 2027 Assembly election cycle beginning to take shape, the credibility of these smaller polls will define the democratic temperature of the state going into its biggest contest.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Akhilesh Yadav allege in the UP MLC elections?
Akhilesh Yadav alleged that unfolded ballot papers were found inside a ballot box at booth number 97 in the Lucknow Graduates constituency during ongoing MLC election counting on 27 October 2026. He accused the BJP of engineering a conspiracy to steal votes on behalf of its candidates.
Why does finding unfolded ballots suggest rigging?
Voters are instructed to fold their ballot papers before depositing them in the box, and papers are handed out pre-folded. The presence of unfolded ballots therefore suggests the votes were not cast through the normal process and may have been inserted into the box by another means.
Has the Election Commission responded to the allegations?
As of the time of reporting, the Election Commission of India had not issued any clarification or official response to Akhilesh Yadav's allegations about unfolded ballots at booth 97.
What other irregularities have occurred in these MLC elections?
Re-polling was ordered at three polling stations in Agra teachers' constituency on Monday, 26 October, following allegations of booth capturing during the original 23 October polling day. The UP MLC unfolded-ballot allegation is the second significant irregularity claim in the same election cycle.
What is the political significance of the UP MLC election results?
Counting covers 11 UP Legislative Council seats; the BJP holds 6 of the outgoing seats, SP holds 3, and 2 are Independents. For the SP, strong performance would boost its foothold ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The party currently holds 10 seats in the 100-member Legislative Council.
