The Samajwadi Party has filed a complaint against Union Home Minister Amit Shah with the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that Covid protocol and directives of the poll panel were defied during his door-to-door campaign at Kairana in Shamli district on Saturday.

Launching the BJP’s poll campaign, Amit Shah had held door-to-door campaign in Kairana on Saturday. While the ECI has allowed a maximum of 10 people for any poll-related campaign, the SP alleged that the norm was thrown to the winds by the BJP stalwart in Kairana and also Covid protocol was not followed during the campaign.

On Saturday, the ECI had extended the ban on physical rallies in poll-bound states till January 30. It had increased the limit for door-to-door campaigns from five persons to a maximum of 10 people. The SP however alleged that more than 10 people had taken part in BJP's door-to-door campaign in Kairana led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Earlier on January 15, the ECI had let off Samajwadi Party with a light rap for violating Covid protocol during a function on its office premises and advised it to be careful and ensure that such breaches did not happen in the future. The ECI had issued a notice to the Samajwadi Party for organising a public gathering in the name of virtual rally at its Lucknow office in violation of Covid norms.

In another complaint to the ECI, Samajwadi Party state president Naresh Uttam demanded the transfer of Superintendent of Police of Sitapur, RP Singh, alleging that the district police chief and inspector of Kotwali Dehat were mounting pressure on the local residents to vote in favour of the BJP.

He alleged that the police officers were pressuring village pradhans, members of panchayat bodies and PDS shop owners to mobilise support for BJP candidates. He urged that ECI to ensure compliance with the model code of conduct so that free and fair poll could be held in the district.