AGRA, Oct. 8 -- Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak on Thursday accused opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), of targeting the Election Commission (EC) to "save face" ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, claiming they were aware of an impending defeat.

Speaking to mediapersons in Agra, Pathak also attacked the SP over party president Akhilesh Yadav's reported decision not to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"When the opposition wins in states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh, they have no complaints against the Election Commission. Once they lose elections, they blame the EC to ease their frustration," he said.

Pathak alleged that the SP's politics was based on minority appeasement and that the party ...