Bihar polls: VVPAT slips found on roadside; election official suspended, EC clarifies

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday asserted that the integrity of the polling process remains “uncompromised” after a large number of VVPAT slips were found dumped by the roadside in Bihar’s Samastipur district.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar clarified that the slips were from mock polls conducted before actual voting began and announced the suspension of the assistant returning officer (ARO) responsible for the lapse.

“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,” CEC Kumar said in a statement issued by the EC, according to news agency ANI.

DM Samastipur was directed to visit the spot and inquire. As these are VVPAT slips of Mock Poll, integrity of Polling process remains uncompromised. Contesting Candidates have also been informed by the DM. However, concerned ARO is being suspended for negligence and FIR is being… https://t.co/UdX6jUgDFV

— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2025

The incident occurred in Samastipur’s Sarairanjan assembly segment, one of the 121 constituencies that voted in the first phase on Thursday. The slips were discovered near a college.

The poll panel swung into action after a purported video of the scattered slips went viral on social media.

समस्तीपुर के सरायरंजन विधानसभा क्षेत्र के KSR कॉलेज के पास सड़क पर भारी संख्या में EVM से निकलने वाली VVPAT पर्चियां फेंकी हुई मिली।

कब, कैसे, क्यों किसके इशारे पर इन पर्चियों को फेंका गया? क्या चोर आयोग इसका जवाब देगा? क्या यह सब बाहर से आकर बिहार में डेरा डाले लोकतंत्र के… pic.twitter.com/SxOR6dd7Me

— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) November 8, 2025

The Sarairanjan assembly seat has been held since 2010 by Vijay Kumar Chaudhary of chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United). He faces 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 cover the remaining 122 seats and is scheduled for November 11. Counting of votes for both phases will take place on November 14.