Election Commission Ensures Polling Integrity After VVPAT Incident

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission (EC) has confirmed that the integrity of the polling process remains intact following the discovery of a large number of VVPAT slips discarded by the roadside in Samastipur district, Bihar. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar stated that these slips were from mock polls conducted prior to the actual voting.

In response to the incident, the EC has suspended the assistant returning officer (ARO) responsible for the oversight. CEC Kumar said, "The District Magistrate, Samastipur, was directed to visit the spot and inquire. As these are VVPAT slips of mock polls, the integrity of the polling process remains uncompromised. Contesting candidates have also been informed by the DM. However, the concerned ARO is being suspended for negligence and an FIR is being registered."

The VVPAT slips were found in the Sarairanjan assembly segment, which is one of the 121 constituencies that participated in the first phase of voting on Thursday. The slips were located near a college, and the EC took swift action after a video showing the scattered slips circulated on social media.

The Sarairanjan assembly seat has been held by Vijay Kumar Chaudhary of the Janata Dal (United) since 2010. He is contesting against Arbind Kumar Sahani of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Sajan Kumar Mishra of the Jan Suraaj Party, among others. The second and final round of polling will take place on November 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14.