Two Ink Marks, One Vote: Shambhavi Choudhary’s ‘Human Error’ Sparks Political Storm in Bihar Polls

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Patna: A video of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP from Samastipur, Shambhavi Choudhary, has gone viral during the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, triggering a fresh controversy. The clip shows ink marks on the index fingers of both her hands, prompting opposition parties — the Congress and RJD — to allege that she voted twice.

The controversy erupted when Shambhavi was seen posing for cameras alongside her father, senior JDU leader Ashok Choudhary, and her mother Neeta Choudhary, after casting her vote. Observers quickly noticed that both her hands bore indelible ink marks — a sign typically used to prevent double voting. The video spread rapidly across social media, with opposition leaders demanding immediate action from the Election Commission.

Opposition Demands Action

RJD spokesperson Kanchana Yadav and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the viral visuals on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the MP of violating electoral norms.
“This is a new example of electoral fraud,” Kanchana Yadav wrote. “LJP MP Shambhavi Choudhary has ink marks on both hands — does that mean she voted twice?”

Shambhavi Choudhary Clarifies: ‘It Was a Human Error’

Responding to the allegations, Shambhavi Choudhary dismissed the claims as “completely baseless,” calling the incident a human error by polling staff.
“The polling officer mistakenly applied ink on my right hand. Later, the presiding officer realized it should be on the left hand, so he applied it there as well. I have cast my vote only once,” she clarified.

Administration Issues Official Statement

To quell the controversy, the Patna District Administration released an official statement verifying Shambhavi’s claim.
An inquiry conducted at Polling Booth No. 61 (St. Paul’s Primary School, 182-Bankipur Assembly Constituency) confirmed that the polling staff accidentally marked the wrong hand first. The presiding officer then corrected the error by applying ink to the left hand, as per procedure.
The statement further confirmed that Shambhavi Choudhary’s name appears only once on the voter list (Serial No. 275) and that she voted just once.

Political Firestorm Over a Simple Mistake

Despite the clarification, the incident has sparked a heated war of words between the ruling NDA allies and the opposition. The RJD and Congress have accused the administration of covering up an “election irregularity,” while LJP (Ram Vilas) leaders have condemned the “political overreaction” to what they call a simple procedural mistake.

As the Bihar election battle intensifies, even a drop of ink seems enough to ignite a political wildfire in the state’s charged atmosphere.