Electoral Officer Dismisses Claims of Foul Play in Hajipur Strongroom
In a significant development concerning the Bihar assembly elections, the District Electoral Officer (DEO) for Vaishali, Varsha Singh, has officially rejected the allegations of irregularities at the Hajipur strongroom. The accusations were levelled by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) following the first phase of polling.
Breaking Down the RJD's Allegations and the Official Rebuttal
The RJD, through its official social media channels, had claimed that a pickup van entered the highly secure strongroom premises under the cover of night. The party further alleged that CCTV cameras were deliberately switched off during this incident, suggesting an attempt by the ruling side to manipulate the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) stored inside.
Providing a detailed clarification, DEO Varsha Singh addressed these points head-on. She confirmed that while the external television display screen for candidates' representatives from the Mahnar constituency was temporarily off due to an auto-timeout feature, the internal CCTV system in the control room recorded footage without any interruption. Regarding the controversial vehicle, Singh stated that the pickup van was only delivering essential supplies, including bedding, for the security personnel stationed at the location around midnight.
The Vaishali district administration released an official statement reinforcing her explanation. It highlighted the three-layered security arrangement protecting the strongroom and confirmed that the van's entry was properly documented in the logbook maintained at the main gate of the college hosting the strongroom.
FIR Registered Against RJD Candidate in Separate Poll-Related Incident
In a related but separate event, the political climate in Vaishali saw further tension with the filing of a First Information Report (FIR). The police have registered a case against RJD candidate E. Ravindra Singh for his alleged involvement in inciting a crowd to pelt stones at central security forces.
This incident is reported to have occurred on November 6 during the first phase of polling at booths 53 and 54 in the Jandaha area of the Vaishali district. Mahnar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Praveen Kumar confirmed that the FIR was lodged at the Jandaha police station based on a statement from Assistant Sub-Inspector Janardan Rai. Along with Singh, several other individuals have been named, and approximately 20 unidentified people have also been booked in connection with the event.
The district administration has reiterated its commitment to a fair and secure electoral process, emphasizing that the entire operation in Vaishali is under strict surveillance and that the integrity of the strongroom remains uncompromised.
