Patna: The Election Commission has dismissed actress Neetu Chandra from her role as a SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) Icon in Bihar following her appearance on television discussing political matters on the day the state’s assembly election results were announced.
Chandra, who had been appointed alongside Pankaj Jha, Chandan Rai, and Kranti Prakash to encourage voter participation, appeared on a news channel speaking about the so-called “Jungle Raj” during Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi’s tenure, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Home Minister Amit Shah, and highlighting Bihar’s “double engine” of development.
स्टेट स्वीप आइकॉन की भूमिका से सुश्री नीतू चन्द्रा को हटाये जाने के संबंध में@ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/Sr0UuC1VTB
— Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar (@CEOBihar) November 16, 2025
The Election Commission said the remarks violated the impartiality expected of SVEEP Icons, who take part in programmes to raise awareness and increase voter turnout. Chandra had actively participated in outreach initiatives across 18 districts ahead of the elections, contributing to Bihar recording a historic voter turnout of 67.13%, the highest since 1951. Among voters, 62.98% of men and 71.78% of women cast ballots.
In her TV appearance, Chandra recalled restrictions and threats she faced during the 1990s under Yadav and Devi’s administration and linked them to voter behaviour, suggesting that fears from that era had influenced turnout. She also praised the development in Bihar over the past two decades and said Nitish Kumar had earned particular support among women.
The Commission did not comment further on whether other ambassadors would face similar scrutiny.
