Patna: The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Union Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, following a controversy over an alleged remark urging supporters to block opposition voters from reaching polling booths.
According to official sources, the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar sent the notice on Tuesday, giving Singh 24 hours to respond. The move came after a video clip went viral on social media, in which the Union Minister reportedly says:
“There are a few leaders. Don’t let them leave their homes on election day. Lock them inside. If they insist, bring them along, let them vote, and then send them home to rest.”
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shared the video online, accusing the JD(U) of attempting to suppress opposition votes.
The remarks have triggered sharp political reactions, with opposition parties demanding strict action. The Commission has stated that it views any attempt to influence or restrict voters’ participation as a “serious violation” of the Model Code of Conduct.
The controversy surfaced as campaigning intensified ahead of the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for 6 November. Lalan Singh was in Mokama on Monday to campaign for JD(U) candidate and former MLA Anant Singh, who was arrested recently in connection with the murder of Jan Suraj Party supporter Dularchand Yadav.
Defending Anant Singh, the minister alleged that the case was part of a “political conspiracy” and that the candidate was “fully cooperating” with police investigations. “From today, I have taken charge of Mokama,” he said during his address.
