Allegations and EC Response
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday issued an official statement after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alleged that several Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips were found dumped on a roadside in Bihar’s Samastipur district.
According to the ECI, the slips discovered were “mock” VVPAT slips generated during the routine testing of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) before polling begins. The commission clarified that these were not actual votes cast during elections but part of standard pre-poll procedures.
The Election Commission further confirmed that the District Magistrate (DM) of Samastipur has been directed to visit the site and conduct a detailed inquiry. The Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) responsible for the area has been suspended for negligence, and a First Information Report (FIR) is being filed, the EC said in its statement.
RJD Raises Serious Concerns
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Tejashwi Yadav-led RJD uploaded a video showing the scattered VVPAT slips near KSR College in Sarairanjan assembly segment. The party claimed a large pile of slips was found discarded in public view and demanded an explanation from the Election Commission on “who ordered” the disposal.
The post questioned the credibility of the election process, referring to the poll body as a “thief commission” and alleging interference by “outsiders” who, it claimed, had set up camp in Bihar during the polls. The RJD has accused the commission of failing to ensure basic election security and transparency.
Meanwhile, RJD MP Manoj K Jha has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar urging tightened security around strong rooms where EVMs are stored. He flagged reports of power cuts in some areas as a concern that could compromise election integrity.
District Administration Reacts
Samastipur District Magistrate Roshan Kushwaha confirmed that the district team immediately took control of the recovered VVPAT slips. An FIR has been lodged, and further investigation is underway.
“Under the Sarairanjan Assembly constituency, some slips were found near the dispatch centre. We reached the spot with other officials and candidates, secured the material, and initiated necessary legal action,” Kushwaha told reporters.
He added that departmental action has been recommended against two officials involved in the incident, pending the outcome of the inquiry.
EC Stresses Procedural Clarity
The Election Commission reiterated that the recovered slips had no bearing on the voting process and were generated only during EVM mock tests a standard practice ahead of polling to verify machine functionality. Still, the EC emphasized that mishandling or careless disposal of any election-related material is unacceptable and warrants swift disciplinary measures.
The commission said it remains committed to ensuring transparency and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.