Stampede-like Akhilesh's Lalganj rally

An unruly crowd of Samajwadi Party supporters created a stampede-like situation at an election rally in the Lalganj Lok Sabha constituency on Tuesday, where party chief Akhilesh Yadav was addressing the gathering.

- BISWAJEET BANERJE

Overexcited party workers and supporters jostled with each other and climbed over wooden barriers to catch a glimpse of Akhilesh Yadav.

The chaos erupted near Kherwa crossing in the Nizamabad Assembly segment as supporters of the Lalganj candidate, Inspector Prasad Saroj, broke security protocols and rushed towards the stage while the SP chief was present.

The situation spiraled out of control when supporters and workers began throwing stones and chairs at each other, creating a ruckus. This incident marked the third time a rally led by Akhilesh Yadav has descended into disorder.

On May 19, a joint election meeting of Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi in the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency had to be called off as a surge of Samajwadi Party supporters overran the stage.