Akhilesh Yadav,  chief of the Samajwadi Party has alleged “discrimination” on the part of the UP administration for allowing a roadshow by BJP candidate from Amroha, Mahendra Singh Khadakvanshi, while imposing a notice and registering cases against his party’s members for flouting COVID-19 norms imposed by the Election Commission ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. In the video, his supporters are seen gathering in large numbers at close proximity, without wearing masks or following other relevant coronavirus precautions and protocols. 

On January 16^th, the Samajwadi Party was served a notice by the Uttar Pradesh administration which is now under the Election Commission until the time the Model Code of Conduct is in place. 2,500 ‘unknown’ Samajwadi Party members were booked after turning up in large numbers to see a “virtual rally” addressed by Akhilesh Yadav and Swami Prasad Maurya, who is prominent among the 10 BJP MLAs that quit the party ahead of elections in the state.