LUCKNOW, Aug. 25 -- Days after the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) launched a crackdown on illegal dairies in Para area of the state capital, its decision to auction 243 seized buffaloes on Monday triggered a political rift, with Samajwadi Party (SP) workers protesting at the civic body's headquarters in Lalbagh area, demanding that the process be postponed. The auction fetched Rs 58.89 lakh for the municipal corporation, with 41 bidders participating in the open bidding process held at the Triloknath auditorium at the LMC headquarters. Additional municipal commissioner Arvind Kumar Rao said the LMC conducted a major auction of seized cattle after nearly seven years; the last major auction took place in 2019. "After the 2019 auction, the LMC had been releasing seized cattle and buffaloes from its kanji houses after recovering fines from their owners," he said.The civic body changed its approach in the latest case following the crackdown in Para, where officials seized animals from illegal dairies. The administration said returning the animals after collecting fines could allow repeat offenders to resume dairy operations. The decision drew opposition from SP MLA Arman Khan and party corporators, who questioned why the LMC chose to auction the animals instead of releasing them after imposing fines. SP corporator Yawar Hussain Reshu termed the auction "completely wrong" and questioned the participation of bidders from outside Lucknow. Another SP corporator Shafiqur Rahman demanded that participation be restricted to Lucknow residents. He also questioned why the LMC had not conducted similar auctions during earlier drives when it had seized cattle. Arman Khan, whose constituency includes the area where the action was taken, reached the auction venue and sought postponement of the process. "Action has been taken against those who attacked the inspector, but now other cattle herders are also being harassed," he said. He later submitted a letter to Rao seeking a delay, arguing that several prospective bidders were outside the city and should be given an opportunity to participate. SP Youth Brigade workers and livestock farmers staged a protest at the municipal headquarters, raising slogans against the auction. Workers of the Azad Samaj Party also joined the demonstration. Police deployed at the headquarters used mild force to disperse the protesters and escorted some of them away from the premises. The auction followed a recent incident during the LMC-police crackdown on illegal dairies in the Para police station area. A mob allegedly pelted the team with stones, injuring many civic employees and damaging three government vehicles. A police S-I also allegedly faced an attack with an iron chain during the operation held earlier. Following the incident, LMC intensified its action against illegal dairies and seized cattle from the area. LMC animal welfare officer Abhinav Verma said the seized animals had been housed at different kanji houses and gaushalas across Lucknow. He said the mayor and municipal commissioner had directed the department to auction the animals to ensure that operators of illegal dairies could not purchase them again and restart their businesses. The civic body barred owners whose animals had been seized from participating in the auction either directly or through representatives. The civic body fixed a security deposit of Rs 1,02,100 for bidders and set the minimum bid at Rs 20,500 per buffalo. Successful bidders were required to complete the payment within the prescribed period, failing which their deposits could be forfeited. The LMC scheduled the bidding for 2pm and allowed prospective bidders to inspect the animals at the respective shelters before participating. The bidding for 40 buffaloes from Thakurganj Kanji House began at Rs 4.40 lakh before Mohammad Shakir emerged as the highest bidder at Rs 12.01 lakh....