Know that election was not fair if I don`t win by over 3 lakh votes in Rampur: Azam Khan

Azam Khan`s statement comes amidst allegations by the opposition parties that EVMs were being tampered with and changed in several parts of UP.

Rampur: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Tuesday said that if he does not win by over three lakh votes in Rampur, his parliamentary constituency, it means that the election was not held in a free and fair manner across India.

Khan's statement comes amidst allegations by the opposition parties that EVMs were being tampered with and changed in several parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Not just Khan, earlier BSP had also alleged that there is "large-scale bungling relating to EVMs in UP."

However, the Election Commission (EC) rejected all allegations of EVM manipulation, stressing that the charges were baseless and frivolous. EC also added that the panel has followed strict ‘protocol’ to keep the EVMs secure before the counting of votes on May 23.

Khan is pitted against BJP candidate Jaya Prada in Rampur. He stoked controversies several times during the election campaign for his statements against Jaya Prada and against the poll authorities.

Prada is an ex-SP member and joined BJP in April 2019. 

Khan was banned from campaigning at least twice for his provocative remarks.

Uttar Pradesh voted in all the seven phases of national election, conducted between April 11 to May 19. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 23.