Samastipur: A large number of VVPAT slips were found scattered on a roadside near KSR College in the Sarairanjan Assembly constituency of Samastipur, triggering sharp political reactions and prompting the Election Commission to suspend two poll personnel.
Authorities said the slips were mock-poll VVPATs, used during pre-voting checks to ensure the EVM system is functioning. The district administration said the discovery “will not affect vote counting” and ordered an inquiry. An FIR will be registered against anyone found responsible.
The Sarairanjan constituency voted in the first phase on 6 November, and mock polling was conducted earlier the same day as standard procedure.
Two days after voting, the slips were found dumped with garbage in Sheetalpatti village, prompting parties in the Grand Alliance to demand accountability.
RJD demands answers: ‘Will the Chor Commission respond?’
The RJD shared a video of the discarded slips on social media, accusing the poll body of negligence and bias.
“When, how and why were these slips thrown away? Will the Chor Commission answer? Is this vote theft being done at the instructions of a ‘dacoit of democracy’ camping in Bihar?” the party wrote.
Samastipur DM Roshan Kushwaha confirmed the slips had been seized in the presence of candidates. “Departmental action and suspension have been recommended against two employees,” he said.
Kharge: ‘If jungle raj still exists, it is the Centre’s failure’
Addressing a rally, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed the NDA’s claims about “jungle raj”, saying the BJP-led central government had failed if the problem persisted after “20 years of power”.
“They say the same things even after ruling with a double-engine government,” he said. On the NDA’s claim of sweeping the first phase, Kharge said, “We trust the public. They said earlier they would cross 400. Let them say what they want.”
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “keeps travelling” and “has no concern for the country’s interests”.
Akhilesh Yadav calls Election Commission BJP’s ‘C team’
In Purnia, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav escalated attacks on the poll body, calling the Election Commission “the C team of the BJP”. He accused the NDA of deploying multiple “teams” to influence the election and said the contest was about “ending BJP’s presence in Bihar”.
He also alleged that BJP supporters engaged in discriminatory behaviour at religious places, saying: “If you or I go to a temple, BJP people get it washed.”
Half a dozen others and around 20 unidentified persons have also been named. Mahnar SDPO Praveen Kumar said further action was under way.
Campaigning enters final stretch
With campaigning scheduled to end at 5pm on Sunday, leaders of the Grand Alliance are holding back-to-back meetings. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni, and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav are all expected to address rallies.
A photograph from Vaishali on polling day showed RJD supporters hurling stones at CAPF personnel — an image that has since become central to the political back-and-forth.
