Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP candidate Vijay Kumar Sinha faced a hostile situation in his home constituency of Lakhisarai on Thursday afternoon, when his convoy was allegedly attacked by a mob amid polling for the first phase of the state assembly elections.
According to reports, a group of villagers hurled stones, slippers, and other objects at Sinha’s convoy as it entered Khoriari village. The protesters also blocked the road and shouted “murdabad” slogans, voicing anger over the poor condition of local roads.
Sinha, a three-time MLA and prominent Bhumihar leader, was visiting polling booths in Lakhisarai when the violence occurred. He accused supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of orchestrating the attack to disrupt his campaign.
“These are RJD-backed goons. The NDA is coming back to power in Bihar, and we will run bulldozers on their chest,” Sinha declared at the site, visibly furious after the incident. He also alleged that his polling agents were forcibly removed from booths numbered 404 and 405 in Khoriari and that voters were being prevented from casting their ballots.
The Deputy Chief Minister claimed that RJD workers attempted to capture polling booths and that the local administration failed to act on his complaints. “Slippers, stones, and even cow dung were thrown at us. The police remained silent spectators,” he alleged. He added that he would lodge a formal complaint with the Election Commission, demanding strict action against those responsible. “This hooliganism cannot be tolerated during an election,” he said.
District police chief Ajay Kumar, however, dismissed the claims of booth capturing and said voting was proceeding peacefully across the district. “We investigated the rumours and found no disruption. Voters are queuing up calmly to cast their votes,” the IPS officer stated. Kumar also refuted Sinha’s allegation that BJP polling agents were expelled from booths. “If any polling agent feels threatened, we will provide full protection. So far, no one has approached us directly,” he added.
The police officer’s remarks drew a sharp reaction from the Deputy Chief Minister, who labelled him a “coward” and accused the administration of weakness. Kumar later acknowledged that protests had taken place and confirmed that the matter was under investigation.
Following the incident, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar directed the state police chief to take immediate action and ensure that law and order were maintained. “No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands,” the Election Commission said in a statement.
District Magistrate Mithilesh Mishra emphasised that both candidates and citizens had rights that must be respected. “Every candidate can visit their constituency, and people have the right to voice grievances. The administration is ensuring peace and will act based on the findings,” he said.
Despite the tensions, police maintained that voting across Lakhisarai remained largely peaceful. Sinha is contesting the Lakhisarai seat against Congress candidate Amaresh Kumar and Jan Suraaj Party’s Suraj Kumar. The district is part of the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, which began on Thursday. The remaining constituencies will go to polls on 11 November, with results scheduled to be announced on 14 November.
