Lucknow, Jan 11 : The Congress party has demanded immediate countermanding of the election to 36 vacant seats of the 100-member Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.

A petition to that effect was moved before the Election Commission by state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi here Monday evening.

The poll was held here on Jan 7 and the counting was scheduled for Jan 13. Only members of local bodies were to elect these 36 members.

Accusing the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of "large scale rigging" and "gross misuse of government machinery", Joshi has also charged the state machinery of indulging in blatant violation of an order of the high court, whereby restrictions were laid down on voting by members of Nagar Panchayats.

She has therefore urged the election commission to countermand the election and order fresh election.(IANS)