RJD Accuses Election Commission of “Stealing Bihar’s Mandate,” Demands Answers on Postal Ballot Irregularities

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has launched a strong attack on the Election Commission, alleging that the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections were marred by manipulation and that the people’s mandate was “stolen.” The party has also raised concerns over what it calls the Commission’s “deliberate indifference” toward widespread financial and procedural irregularities recorded during the polling process.

RJD Breaks Silence After Heavy Electoral Defeat

After maintaining silence for nearly a week following its disappointing performance, RJD has now openly alleged electoral malpractice. Notably, during the campaign, the party’s top leader Lalu Prasad Yadav refrained from directly alleging vote theft — a narrative strongly pushed by the Congress. Now RJD has come forward echoing similar concerns.

RJD Chief Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, in a video statement on Friday, declared:
“The mandate of Bihar has been looted. The Election Commission must explain how money was transferred into beneficiaries’ accounts even after the Model Code of Conduct came into force.”

Congress and RJD on the Same Page

Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi repeatedly alleged “vote theft” during their campaign rallies. RJD has now joined this line of accusation, pointing towards systemic irregularities and misuse of government machinery during elections.

Financial Transfers, CCTV Tampering and Suspicious Truck Entry Highlighted

RJD alleged that several financial transactions — including GST advances and World Bank loan-linked payouts — were made during the election period, which the Election Commission failed to act upon.

Citing media reports, the party listed alarming incidents:

• CCTV cameras allegedly covered or disabled at key locations
• A truck entering a protected strongroom area in Sasaram
• VVPAT slips found lying in public places

“These incidents raise serious questions about election malpractices and the misuse of administrative machinery,” said Yadav.

Suspicious Postal Ballot Cancellations

RJD, in a social media post, detailed how a large number of postal ballots were declared invalid, allegedly leading to NDA victories in closely contested seats.

Examples cited by the party include:

• Nabinagar: RJD lost by 112 votes; 132 postal ballots were rejected
• Sandesh: RJD lost by 27 votes; 360 postal ballots invalidated
• Agiaon (CPI-ML ally): Lost by 95 votes; 175 postal ballots rejected

The party termed this a “calculated pattern” aimed at influencing outcomes in seats with razor-thin margins.

‘Identical Vote Counts’ Raise Eyebrows

RJD also expressed shock over the fact that JDU’s Kaushal Kishore (Rajgir) and BJP’s Kedar Prasad Gupta (Kurhani) received exactly 1,07,811 votes each.

“Both students submitted blank answer sheets, yet the ‘teacher’ gave them identical marks,” the party mocked in a viral social media post, targeting the Election Commission.

RJD Warns of ECI’s Credibility Crisis

Shakti Singh Yadav asserted:
“If the Election Commission does not answer these serious questions, its credibility will come under deep suspicion.”

The party accused the Commission of failing to remain neutral and instead conducting the elections in a biased manner.