New Delhi: Pranjal Yadav, a 2006-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has returned to the political spotlight following allegations of bias during the counting of votes for the Varanasi Graduate Constituency of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.
BJP leaders and workers questioned Yadav’s impartiality in his capacity as an election observer during the counting process on October 27 and 28. The controversy has also brought attention to his earlier tenure as Varanasi District Magistrate, particularly the dispute over permission for a proposed election rally by Narendra Modi in 2014.
The BJP has alleged that Yadav favoured the Samajwadi Party during the MLC election counting. These remain allegations made by party leaders, and no independent finding establishing bias has been cited in the reports available.
Who Is IAS Pranjal Yadav?
Pranjal Yadav is a 2006-batch Indian Administrative Service officer belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He holds a B.Tech. degree in Mechanical Engineering.
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Over the course of his administrative career, he has held several important positions in the state government, including District Magistrate of Varanasi.
His association with Varanasi dates back to his tenure as the district’s administrative head, which began in 2013. His role during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections brought him into the national political discussion.
Yadav has also served in various state government departments and administrative assignments.
Why Did Pranjal Yadav Become Controversial During the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections?
In 2014, when Narendra Modi was contesting the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Pranjal Yadav was serving as the District Magistrate of the city.
A dispute emerged over permission for a proposed BJP election rally at the Beniabagh ground in Varanasi.
The BJP objected to the decision not to grant permission for the proposed rally, and the matter became a subject of political controversy during the election campaign.
Yadav’s position as District Magistrate at the time brought his name into the debate surrounding the rally permission.
BJP Questions His Role in Varanasi MLC Election Counting
Yadav has again attracted attention in connection with the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections, where he served as an election observer for the Varanasi Graduate Constituency.
Polling in the relevant Legislative Council constituencies across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar took place on October 23. Counting in Varanasi began on October 27 and continued into October 28.
During the counting process, BJP leaders and workers staged a protest outside the counting centre at Paharia Mandi in Varanasi.
The BJP candidate, Kedarnath Singh, and his supporters raised objections to the proceedings and questioned Yadav’s role as election observer.
The party alleged that the observer was acting in favour of the Samajwadi Party candidate. Protesters also raised slogans against Yadav and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.
BJP Demands Action Amid Allegations of Bias
BJP leaders questioned the circumstances under which counting was conducted and alleged that the process was not impartial.
Some party representatives also demanded action against the election observer and raised concerns about the conduct of the counting process.
The controversy unfolded amid competing political claims over the Varanasi MLC election results. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also raised allegations concerning the handling of the counting process, claiming that the result showing his party’s candidate winning was being withheld.
Why Is the 2014 Episode Being Recalled?
The renewed attention on Pranjal Yadav has brought his 2014 tenure as Varanasi District Magistrate back into focus.
BJP leaders have referred to the earlier rally-permission dispute while questioning his impartiality in the latest election-related assignment.
The two episodes, separated by more than a decade, have placed the IAS officer at the centre of political debate in Varanasi once again. However, the allegations surrounding the current MLC counting process remain to be established through the appropriate official or legal process.
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