Bihar Elections: 2 arrested after RJD exposes poll code violation in Motihari

Patna: When the second phase polling of Bihar assembly elections is underway, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday lodged an FIR against certain individuals over the "circulation and distribution" of voter slips inside a polling booth in Motihari district of Bihar. According to the poll panel two people have been arrested for violating the model code of conduct.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) exposed the incident, flagging "flagrant violation" of electoral guidelines, allegedly by the polling agent of the BJP candidate in booth numbers 229 and 230 of Motihari Assembly.

Accusing the BJP candidate of a forced election campaign on the day of voting, the RJD, on its X handle, shared pictures and videos of voter slips displayed in the open, allegedly with the intent to sway voters.

"In booth numbers 229 and 230 of Motihari Assembly, voters are being deliberately shown photos and slips with election symbols inside the booth and distributed by the BJP polling agent! Similar complaints are being received from all booths in Motihari," the party said in the post.

It also slammed the Election Commission for failing to act against violations of the model code of conduct, adding that the distribution of such voter slips with photos of candidates was not immoral but also grossly illegal.

The voter slips, allegedly distributed by BJP polling agents to electors, reportedly carried pictures of the NDA candidate, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with an appeal to re-elect the Nitish-led government.

The ECI was quick to take cognisance of the incident and informed that a case was lodged against the violators, leading to the arrest of two individuals.

Meanwhile, the second phase of polling started on a brisk note this morning, as people, including women, gathered in large numbers to cast their votes across multiple constituencies.

Good voter turnout was recorded in the morning, with more than 14 per cent of voters casting their ballot till 9 am.

The constituencies with the highest voter turnout included Araria (15.34 per cent), Arwal (14.95 per cent), Aurangabad (15.43 per cent), and Banka (15.14 per cent). In contrast, others like Kaimur, Katihar, and Nawada recorded over 13 per cent polling till 9 am.

(With IANS inputs)