Azam’s name struck from electoral rolls in Rampur

Rampur (UP): After being disqualified from the membership of Uttar Pradesh Assembly, senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mohammad Azam Khan will not be able to vote in the by-poll for Rampur Sadar seat as his name has been struck off from the electoral rolls.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Hem Singh confirmed that a letter has been received that Azam’s name has been struck off from the voter list and he won’t be able to cast his vote in the by-polls for Rampur Sadar seat to be held on December 5.
Sources said that Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Akash Saxena alias Honey has demanded that as Azam has been convicted in a hate speech case and sentenced to three years imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 6,000, he has been disqualified from the membership of the UP assembly.
He said that as Azam has been sentenced, a convicted person does not have the right to cast his vote under section 16 of the Representation of the People Act. He had demanded that Azam’s name be struck from the electoral rolls.
It may be noted that on October 27, an MP-MLA court sentenced Azam to three years imprisonment and penalty of Rs 6,000 in a hate speech case. Azam was accused of making indecent comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the then District Magistrate of Rampur Aunjaneya Kumar Singh during an election rally during 2019 general elections.
After being sentenced by the court Azam was disqualified from the membership of the UP assembly and his seat was declared vacant on October 28. (UNI)