Mayawati accuses: BSP chief claims UP CM Yogi Adityanath violated EC-imposed campaigning ban, here's how she says he did it 

BSP Supremo Mayawati, who was issued a 48-hour campaign ban on Monday by the Election Commission has hit out at UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was also slapped with a 72-hour campaign ban by the poll body, alleging that he flagrantly disobeyed the EC's order by visiting cities and temples of UP accompanied by the media. She accused him of putting on this display for electoral gains.

("In a flagrant violation of the Election commission's ban, UP CM Yogi is going from city to city and to temples and eating lunch outside the houses of Dalits' houses portraying a false image, by projecting it in the media to get electoral gains, from the telecast. But the Commission is kind to him, why?")

She added that this kind of discrimination favouring BJP leaders will not ensure freedom and fairness in the polls. She questioned as to why the BJP was bent on continuing this kind of code violations, worrying the people of UP.

("If that is the case of discrimination and neglect of the Election Commission against BJP leaders, then it is impossible for this election to be free and fair. How will the public's discomfort in these cases be solved? The BJP leadership is still bent on doing the same arbitrariness as it has been so far, why?")

Both leaders were banned from campaigning because of their controversial statements at public rallies. Mayawati had appealed to the Muslim community in a joint rally to vote for gathbandhan, while Yogi Adityanath had called the Opposition as 'green virus' referring to their alleged appeasement of the Muslim community. 

Mayawati has also sent out message likening BJP and PM Modi's fear in this election to that of Congress' fear in 2014 Lok Sabha polls due to the narrow-mindedness and the lack of work done towards the Dalits, poor, labourers, farmers and Muslims.

("Today is the second phase of polling and BJP and PM Modi seem to be very nervous as the Congress was agitated for fear of defeat in the last Lok Sabha elections. The real reason is the narrow thinking and actions of the poor, the labourers, the farmers, as well as Dalit, backward and Muslim of all society.")

The second phase of Lok Sabha polls is underway in 12 states and 1 union territory on Thursday. With 95 Lok Sabha seats in the fray and 52 of them belonging to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, phase two is a battle for the southern vote. Tamil Nadu, where all 38 Lok Sabha seats are going to polls, is where the BJP-AIADMK-PMK alliance is clashing with DMK-Congress duo.