NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Saturday declared the poll taken on Friday at three polling stations of Agra division’s teachers constituency for UP legislative council election, as “void” and ordered a fresh repoll there on Oct 26. This follows allegations of poll irregularities and harassment by the Samajwadi Party candidate and supporters.A communication sent by EC to the Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer on Saturday asked the Agra divisional commissioner to fix responsibility of the persons involved, including police and polling officers, that led to the incidents resulting in re-poll at the aforesaid polling stations. “This enquiry shall be done immediately and the report…sent to the Commission latest by 25.10.2026,” stated the poll panel.The Commission declared as null and void the poll taken, in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 58A (2)(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. “It must be ensured that the persons involved in any unlawful activities which may have caused the irregularities/lapses leading to vitiation of poll are not deputed during the said re-poll,” the EC conveyed to the UP CEO. The commission further directed that indelible ink shall be applied on the right hand forefinger of the electors.A fresh permission for commencement of counting of votes in respect of Agra division Teachers’ constituency shall be obtained after the successful completion of repoll in the aforementioned polling stations in the proforma prescribed by the Commission, the EC ordered.
Dramatic scenes had unfolded after the poll in Agra as Samajwadi Party MLC candidate Akash Agarwal broke down before the media, alleging booth capturing, electoral irregularities and harassment of his supporters during polling. Agarwal accused the BJP and local administration of interfering with the polling process in Kheragarh, Fatehabad and other areas. He alleged that his supporters and school management associates across 12 districts were being harassed, with repeated complaints failing to bring any relief.