In the ongoing first phase of voting across the nation, attention is drawn to Uttar Pradesh, where polling is underway for eight seats. Chandrashekhar Azad, the candidate from the Azad Samaj Party contesting from the Nagina seat in Bijnor district, has raised serious concerns regarding the electoral process. Azad accused the administration of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and improperly installed Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at polling booths.

According to Chandrashekhar, over ten EVMs have reportedly malfunctioned, causing disruptions in the voting process. He further alleged that the CCTV cameras, meant to monitor the polling stations, were not functioning correctly. Chandrashekhar highlighted an instance where the EVM at the village of BJP candidate Om Kumar also experienced a breakdown. Moreover, he accused the administration of obstructing voters from exercising their franchise.

Expressing his determination to address the issues, Chandrashekhar stated his intention to visit all polling booths. He urged the media to spotlight areas where electoral malpractices are occurring. Chandrashekhar emphasized that the purpose of bringing EVMs was to facilitate a smooth and efficient voting process, but the malfunctioning machines have instead hindered voters' participation.

Alleging collusion between local BJP leaders and the police, Chandrashekhar claimed that instances of voter suppression were reported, with people being denied their right to vote despite possessing valid identification documents. He vowed to confront instances of misconduct wherever they occur and called on the media to expose any irregularities perpetrated by the administration.