Samastipur: A wave of concern has swept through Bihar’s electoral landscape after dozens of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips were discovered scattered on a roadside in Samastipur district, prompting swift action from the Election Commission.
The slips, found in the Sarairanjan Assembly constituency near a college, were reportedly discovered by local children, who shared photographs on social media, sparking widespread attention. An initial investigation confirmed that the slips were from a “mock poll” conducted as part of pre-election machine checks. However, the Election Commission said they should have been securely destroyed, a step that was overlooked.
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In response, the Assistant Returning Officer responsible was immediately suspended and a first information report (FIR) filed. The District Magistrate has been instructed to personally inspect the site and submit a detailed report. Officials stressed that the integrity of the actual voting process was unaffected, with all VVPAT machines sealed and untouched.
Political reactions were swift. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) demanded a full explanation from the Election Commission, highlighting that the episode raises questions about electoral oversight. “When the voting process is so sensitive, this negligence is unacceptable. The Election Commission must ensure that such an incident does not happen again,” an RJD spokesperson said.
The discovery comes shortly after the first phase of voting for Bihar’s Assembly elections, which saw high turnout among women and young voters across 121 seats. As the state prepares for the second phase, the incident has reignited debate over administrative vigilance and the transparency of the electoral process.
