In a development that has raised serious questions about electoral transparency, several Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips were discovered discarded in a drain in Bihar's Samastipur district. The incident occurred during the crucial second phase of Bihar assembly elections, sending shockwaves through the political establishment and election authorities.
Discovery That Shook Election Integrity
The controversy erupted on November 8, 2025, when local residents stumbled upon the discarded VVPAT slips in a drain near a polling station. The location of this alarming discovery was Basantpur village under the Kalyanpur block of Samastipur district. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the sensitive election materials floating in the water, immediately raising concerns about potential electoral malpractice.
Local election officials were alerted about the situation, prompting swift action from higher authorities. The timing was particularly sensitive as the discovery came during the ongoing second phase of Bihar assembly elections, where every vote counts in the fiercely contested political battle.
Immediate Fallout and Official Response
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar, B. Rajendra, took immediate cognizance of the serious security lapse. In a decisive move, the election authorities suspended Sanjay Kumar Singh, who served as the Presiding Officer of polling station number 191. This disciplinary action was taken for what officials termed as "gross negligence" in handling sensitive election materials.
The Election Commission of India responded to the growing controversy with Chief Election Commissioner Rajat Kumar addressing media concerns. The CEC confirmed that a thorough investigation has been initiated to determine the circumstances that led to this security breach. Election Commission officials emphasized their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
Initial reports suggested that the discarded slips were from mock polls conducted before actual voting commenced. However, the very fact that VVPAT slips were found improperly disposed of raised questions about the protocols followed by election officials.
Broader Implications for Electoral Process
This incident has triggered widespread concern among political parties and voters alike about the security measures surrounding electronic voting machines and VVPAT systems. The VVPAT system was introduced specifically to enhance voter confidence by providing a paper trail that verifies the vote cast electronically.
The discovery in Samastipur has led to demands from various political quarters for stricter monitoring of election procedures and more robust protocols for handling VVPAT slips. Many are questioning how such sensitive materials could end up discarded in a public drain, especially given the elaborate security arrangements typically surrounding election materials.
Election authorities have assured the public that the incident is being treated with utmost seriousness and that comprehensive measures will be implemented to prevent recurrence of such lapses in future phases of voting. The investigation aims to identify whether this was an isolated incident or indicative of broader systemic issues.
As Bihar continues through its multi-phase assembly elections, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in maintaining electoral integrity and the constant vigilance required to protect the democratic process from potential vulnerabilities.
