Lucknow, Feb. 5 -- A day before a bypoll in Milkipur assembly segment, the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Tuesday alleged that the local police were trying to scare the party workers by issuing them 'red cards', and demanded that the Election Commission cancel all such slips and ensure free and fair polling.

Shyam Lal Pal, the SP state president, also alleged that police officers of a caste and religion were transferred in order to influence voting in the constituency.

Pal, in a memorandum to Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer (CEO) on Tuesday, demanded that the 'red cards' being issued by police against sector in-charges and polling station in-charges of the Samajwadi Party in Milkipur be cancelled and strict punitive action be taken again...