Mayawati's nephew, Azam Khan's son fill in for them; campaigning ends for 8 UP seats

BSP chief Mayawati's nephew and SP leader Azam Khan's son Tuesday filled in for the two Uttar Pradesh heavyweights on Tuesday, the final day of electioneering for the second phase of polling in the state.

The Election Commission had Monday barred the two leaders as well as UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP's Maneka Gandhi from campaigning for varying periods over violations of the moral code of conduct.

The leaders stayed away from the campaign, but marked their presence in other ways.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo's nephew Akash Anand delivered his first political speech in Nagina, where Mayawati was initially scheduled to address a joint opposition alliance meeting. Azam Khan's son Abdullah addressed a press conference in Rampur, criticising the EC order.

Yogi Adityanath prayed at a Hanuman temple in Lucknow, a day after the EC's issued the order frowning at his Ali-Bajrang Bali remark, seemingly framing the election as a contest between Hindus and Muslims.

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