"Jungle Raj" Prevails In UP: Mayawati As Violence Mars Panchayat Polls

Mayawati's comments came as the Opposition slammed Uttar Pradesh government over incidents of violence in the run-up to the polls for the block panchayat chief.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government over law and order, saying a "jungle raj" is prevailing in the state as violence marred the panchayat polls and women faced indecent behaviour. Mayawati's comments have come as the Opposition has slammed the state government over incidents of violence in the run-up to the polls for the block panchayat chief. Reports of clashes had surfaced from several area of the state amid allegations that candidates backed by opposition parties were not allowed to file nomination papers. On Friday, Samajwadi Party chief AkhileshYadav had alleged that in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri, BJP workers misbehaved with his party candidate Ritu Singh and her proposer Anita Yadav, pulling their "sarees".