Siwan: In a startling post-poll development, a large number of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) slips were recovered from an open plot of land in Siwan’s Bathan area, triggering panic among residents and a flurry of administrative and political reactions. The incident comes four days after the first phase of voting for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, prompting renewed concerns about electoral transparency and procedural lapses.
According to eyewitnesses, locals in the Mouli area of Siwan town first spotted the slips scattered across an empty plot. Within minutes, word spread, and hundreds of villagers gathered at the site, alarmed by the discovery of what appeared to be official election materials.
District officials, including Sadar SDO Ashutosh Kumar Gupta and SDPO Ajay Kumar Singh, arrived soon after to assess the situation and attempted to collect the slips, but faced resistance from the crowd, which demanded that no material be moved until a formal inquiry was initiated.
Locals alleged that the presence of so many slips after polling “raises serious doubts about the fairness of the process.” Several slips reportedly bore the name of RJD candidate Vishal Jaiswal from the Maharajganj Assembly constituency, though others featured names of different candidates.
As tensions rose, administrative officials sought to pacify the crowd, promising a full investigation. Authorities suggested that the slips might have been discarded inadvertently during post-election cleaning at polling stations, though villagers have dismissed the explanation, calling it “implausible.”
The incident has since sent shockwaves through political circles, with opposition parties accusing the administration of mishandling sensitive electoral materials. Demands have been made for a high-level inquiry by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to determine how VVPAT slips, meant to ensure transparency in voting, could end up in public spaces.
Meanwhile, local police have cordoned off the area and begun collecting statements from witnesses. Officials have assured that the Election Commission has been informed and that forensic verification of the slips may be conducted if required.
