Bihar Elections: RJD Cries Foul Over Poll Day Power Disruptions

Tension simmered on the first day of Bihar’s Assembly elections as the RJD accused the Election Commission of engineering power cuts. With voting underway for 121 seats across 12 districts, the RJD alleges a deliberate strategy to hamper the Mahagathbandhan’s performance. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav voiced concerns that polling booths in their strongholds are experiencing targeted electricity interruptions. According to a post on X by the party, these deliberate cuts are intended to deliberately slow down the pace of voting, impacting voters’ ability to cast their ballots efficiently. The RJD has formally requested the ECI to address these allegations promptly. In response, the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar has categorically denied the claims, describing them as ‘misleading propaganda’ without any factual basis. The official asserted that the voting process is proceeding without any interruptions and in full compliance with electoral procedures. For the first time, election officials, including the CEC and Election Commissioners, are actively observing all polling stations through live CCTV feeds from a central control room to ensure the integrity of the election. A total of 1,314 candidates are vying for seats in this initial phase of the elections.